Thursday September 24 Ag News

NEBRASKA HOG INVENTORY UNCHANGED

Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2020, was 3.80 million head, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was unchanged from September 1, 2019, but down 1% from June 1, 2020.

Breeding hog inventory, at 430,000 head, was down 4% from September 1, 2019, and down 2% from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 3.37 million head, was up 1% from last year, but down 1% from last quarter.

The June - August 2020 Nebraska pig crop, at 2.11 million head, was down 7% from 2019. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 180,000 head, down 7% from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.70 for the June - August period, compared to 11.65 last year.

Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 185,000 sows during the September - November 2020 quarter, down 5% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for December 2020 - February 2021 are 180,000 sows, down 5% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.



IOWA HOGS & PIGS REPORT

On September 1, 2020, there were 25.1 million hogs and pigs on Iowa farms, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Hogs and Pigs report. Inventory is up 100,000 head from the previous year.

The June-August 2020 quarterly pig crop was 5.99 million head, up 3% from the previous quarter but 4% below last year. A total of 530,000 sows farrowed during this quarter. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.30 for the quarter.

As of September 1, producers planned to farrow 520,000 sows and gilts in the September-November quarter and 520,000 head during the December 2020-February 2021 quarter.



United States Hog Inventory Up 1 Percent

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2020 was 79.1 million head. This was up 1 percent fromSeptember 1, 2019, but down 1 percent from June 1, 2020.   

Breeding inventory, at 6.33 million head, was down 2 percent from last year, but up slightly from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 72.8 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, but down 1 percent from last quarter.

The June-August 2020 pig crop, at 35.1 million head, was down 3 percent from 2019. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.18 million head, down 3 percent from 2019. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.04 for the June-August period, compared to 11.11 last year.

United States hog producers intend to have 3.12 million sows farrow during the September-November 2020 quarter, down 5 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period one year earlier, and down 3 percent from the same period two years earlier. Intended farrowings for December 2020-February 2021, at 3.11 million sows, are down 1 percent from the same period one year earlier, but up slightly from the same period two years earlier.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 47 percent of the total United States hog inventory, down 1 percent from the previous year.



Record High Pork Production in August

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.69 billion pounds in August, up 1 percent from the 4.65 billion pounds produced in August 2019.

Beef production, at 2.33 billion pounds, was 2 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.80 million head, down 4 percent from August 2019. The average live weight was up 27 pounds from the previous year, at 1,365 pounds.

Veal production totaled 5.0 million pounds, 17 percent below August a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 34,200 head, down 33 percent from August 2019. The average live weight was up 47 pounds from last year, at 253 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.34 billion pounds, up 4 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 11.1 million head, up 2 percent from August 2019. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 282 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 10.8 million pounds, was down 15 percent from August 2019. Sheep slaughter totaled 174,800 head, 14 percent below last year. The average live weight was 123 pounds, down 3 pounds from August a year ago.

By State: Aug '20    -   million lbs  -  % Aug '19
Nebraska ...........:          681.7             92       
Iowa ..................:          768.3            106       
Kansas ...............:          529.3            114       

January to August 2020 commercial red meat production was 36.3 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2019. Accumulated beef production was down 1 percent from last year, veal was down 10 percent, pork was up 3 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 8 percent.



Fuel Retailers and Consumers Fuel Up for Cancer Research
 
Throughout October, drivers can help Fuel the Cure for breast cancer by filling up with higher blends of ethanol at participating locations. More than 35 Nebraska gas stations will donate 3 cents for every gallon of higher ethanol blends – E15 to flex fuel E85 – sold between Oct. 1­‑31 to support cancer research at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha.

Why support this important cause?
Jenn Klein was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32. Her cancer cells were growing and dividing very rapidly - at a rate of about 80%. Lifesaving treatment was needed right away. She completed 20 weeks of chemotherapy, received multiple blood and platelets transfusions, underwent a four-hour procedure that included a port removal, sentinel node biopsy, double mastectomy, and immediate one-step reconstruction, and endured 33 sessions of radiation. By the end of 2015, Jenn was finally cancer free. If it wasn't for a chemotherapy treatment that was discovered by a funded researcher, Jenn might not be alive today to share her story.
 
Chemicals in gasoline, like benzene, are known to cause cancer. Higher blends of biofuels, like locally-produced ethanol, replace a portion of this toxicity and help reduce cancer-causing emissions. Since 2018, Nebraska’s Fuel the Cure campaigns have raised more than $13,000 for cancer research.
 
“Cancer touches the lives of nearly everyone in some way,” said Ashley Christensen, director of development at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. “We appreciate that Nebraska fuel retailers are joining forces to empower drivers to support cancer research at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, which provides lifesaving care to people throughout our state. Through generous contributions, such as the Fuel the Cure campaign, we are able to fund researchers working on new treatments each and every day.”
 
For a complete list of participating fuel retailers, please visit fueledbynebraska.com. Drivers will be able to identify which retailers are supporting this important cause by looking for pink signage at the pump, on the windows and at the counter.
 
E15 (15% ethanol and 85% gasoline), also called Unleaded88, is approved for use in all passenger vehicles 2001 and newer. Ethanol blends higher than 15% are approved for use in flex fuel vehicles. One in seven Nebraskans drive a flex fuel vehicle, which can run on any blend of ethanol up to E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). Drivers can check their owners’ manuals to see if they’re driving flex fuel vehicles. The vehicles may also have a flex fuel badge on the trunk or tailgate — or a yellow gas cap.
 
“This October, I encourage everyone to visit a Fuel the Cure participating retailer,” said David Bruntz, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board and farmer from Friend. “Through this program, we’re not only saving consumers money, cleaning up the environment and supporting our state’s corn farmers, but we’re also helping in the fight against cancer one gallon at a time.”
 
The Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Ethanol Board, along with Renewable Fuels Nebraska, sponsor Fuel the Cure in conjunction with retail stations.



Nebraska Extension to Host BeefWatch Webinar Series
 
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension will host the 2020 BeefWatch Webinar Series. The webinars will take place weekly beginning on Tuesday, October 6.
 
The BeefWatch Webinar series is designed to highlight management strategies in grazing, nutrition, reproduction, and economics to increase cow/calf and stocker production efficiency and profitability. Each session will feature industry experts and plenty of opportunity to interact to get your questions answered.
 
Each webinar will begin at 8:00 PM Central Time. Dates are October 6, 13, 20, and 27.
 
Topics and speakers are as follows:

October 6, Range Condition Monitoring
    Dr. Mitchell Stephenson, Panhandle Research Extension Center
    Do you know how your management is affecting your grass productivity? Mitch will discuss rangeland monitoring data collection, variability in plant communities, and the influence of grazing management on vegetation characteristics.  

October 13, Nutritional Management of Growing Calves
    Dr. Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Understanding protein needs: when it comes to growing cattle not all protein sources are created equal. Mary will help you understand why and how to use this information to make the right choice to meet your calves needs.

October 20, Heifer Selection and Development
    Dr. Travis Mulliniks, West Central Research and Extension Center
    Nutritional management of heifers prior to the breeding season. Travis will cover nutritional strategies and potential pitfalls in heifer nutritional management and how to decide which strategy is best for your operation.  

October 27, BeefWatch Talk - Chat with the Experts
    This session is all about getting your questions answered! The presenters of webinars for the month will be joined by authors from this month's BeefWatch Newsletter to discuss any ideas or questions that you have related to forage, cow/calf, or stocker production. Register here

There is no cost to participate in this webinar series.  More information and registration at https://beef.unl.edu/.  

CONTACT:
Dr. Kacie McCarthy, Beef Cow-Calf Specialist, 402-472-6074, kacie.mccarthy@unl.edu
Dr. Mary Drewnoski, Beef Systems Specialist, 402-472-6289, mary.drewnoski@unl.edu



Get the Facts: US & China Trade Agreement
How technology based products are playing a part

The Nebraska Cattlemen, Minnesota State Cattlemen and Kentucky Cattlemen are presenting the next Producer Education webinar on Tuesday, October 6, at 7:00 pm CDT.   

Get the Facts on the US China Trade agreement and how technology based products are playing a part in the trade agreement.

Learn why it is important to show a sense of unity to protect the technology we are using in the United States.
    Full implementation of Phase 1 of the U.S.-China Trade Agreement” will provide more opportunities for U.S. livestock producers to export to China;
    China’s current policies represent significant lost income for U.S. livestock producers; and
    Your help in reaching out to Congress and the Administration will help maximize the potential of the China market for U.S. livestock producers.

Presenter:
Eric Steiner works for Elanco Animal Health as Senior Director of Government Affairs, leading legislative and regulatory advocacy at the federal level. Eric will provide an update on the U.S.-China Trade Agreement, including specifics and implementation status for Phase 1 of the agreement for livestock.

Register at www.nebraskacattlemen.org.



USDA Announces United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board Appointments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of five members to serve on the United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board. All five appointees will serve three-year terms starting December 2020 and ending December 2023.

According to the USDA press release, the sorghum farmers appointed to the board are:
    Klint G. Stewart, Columbus, Nebraska, At-Large Member
    Ethan J. Miller, Columbia, Missouri, At-Large Member
    James Jay Haase, Eads, Colorado, At-Large Member
    Shayne C. Suppes, Scott City, Kansas, Kansas Member

The 13-member United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board is composed of nine sorghum farmers who represent the three states with the largest sorghum production – Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma – and four at-large national representatives. More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) United Sorghum Checkoff Program webpage and on the board’s website, sorghumcheckoff.com.



M&M Feeders, Lexington, NE wins CAB honors
Miranda Reiman, CAB

Cattlemen and women continue to do good work, regardless of what is going on in the world around them. So even though we’re not together in-person at our brand’s annual conference, we celebrated our 2020 production award winners virtually this morning. Please join us in congratulating these five families who are leaders in the field of high-quality beef production:
    Feedlot Commitment to Excellence Award – M&M Feeders, Huyser family, Lexington, NE
    Seedstock Commitment to Excellence Award – Dalebanks Angus, Perrier family, Eureka, KS
    Commercial Commitment to Excellence Award – Morgan Ranches, Rutan family, South Mountain, ID
    Ambassador Award – Langford Cattle Co., Bodey and Kathy Langford, Lockhart TX
    Sustainability Award – Beef Northwest & Wilson Cattle Co., Wilson family, North Powder, OR

Huysers: Honesty is the best policy
For brothers Mel and Marvin Huyser that’s not just an old saying. It’s a code they live by, the way they run their cattle feeding business and how they lead their families.

"Honesty is the best business advertisement you can have," says Mel Huyser. "We have always stuck to our guns on that. It has always paid off."

Customers come from word-of-mouth or longtime connections. In turn, the feedyard gets more high-quality cattle and helps create more of them.

"It’s about treating people right, treating people with integrity," says Mel’s son Daron, who joined the family business in 2005. "We want to take care of the customer cattle the same way we would take care of our own—and even better—because their trust is in us to take care of their cattle."

For building beneficial relationships and their drive to produce the best, M&M Feeders earned the 2020 Feedyard Commitment to Excellence Award from the Certified Angus Beef brand.

The best hard choice
    In the early 1990s, the Idaho family saw inputs and markets moving toward the middle of the U.S., so one branch decided to do the same. Mel and Connie relocated to Elm Creek, Neb., in 1992, while Marvin and Reeta stayed put.
     “We could see the cattle industry was changing,” Mel says. “The packers were out here and the corn was out here and it was a good move for us.”    
    It took patience and prayer, and a big dose of faith.
    “We’ve been blessed that we’ve been given this area, and this facility, and blessed with my kids because they love the business.”
    Daron went off to college to study animal science, Marvin managed commodity trading from Idaho and Mel ran the feedyard. They wanted to expand, but the right opportunity was just out of reach—until 2015.
    “It was like getting that winning lottery ticket,” Daron says. “You have the opportunity to do what you want to do, to come back, be large enough to establish and carry a family, take care of customers. I thought, ‘Let's jump in with both feet and go.’”
    They purchased the yard at Lexington, where Daron now manages operations with his dad. Nearby Daron and wife Hayley raise their three boys. His sister, Jamie, tackles the daily tasks at Elm Creek.
    “It’s somebody in the family feeding the cattle, taking care of the cattle day to day,” Daron says. “We don't have to sit and look off a computer and tell you exactly whose cattle they are. We have relationships; we talk with the people weekly.”
    In almost no time, they had the 6,500-head second location full of customer cattle and their own.

Raising the feeding kind  
    A friend at the local café nudged Daron to apply for the Young Farmers and Ranchers loan that kick-started the herd. But he credits their genetic supplier, Connealy Angus, Whitman, Neb., with getting them set for success.
“They helped us see the value of genetics,” Daron says. “We could see the improvement starting with the calves carried all the way through onto the carcass traits and the different premiums that we could get.”
They’ve improved calf vigor, disposition and mothering ability, too.
The Huysers artificially inseminate the entire herd, calve early and hit the April market with 14-month-old finished cattle. Most go right up the road to Tyson, where they’ll often bring $5 to $10 above the market and reach 60% CAB acceptance, not counting another 10% to 15% Prime. Trying to hit that earlier market, they sell “a little green,” Daron says, noting 10% yield grade 4s.
“Certified Angus Beef has been a way that we can add more value to our carcass,” he says, while also securing demand by meeting consumers’ needs.
Having “skin in the game” helps them share what’s worked in their herd, along with the carcass and performance data. It’s helped them narrow their purchasing orders, too, transitioning from unknown genetics to those with more reliability.
“We’ve seen the value of buying cattle off of one ranch or off of a bigger group of cattle from people who are really invested and improving their genetics,” he says. Verifications programs like AngusLink show which cattlemen are probably already doing all the little things that add up.
Knowing the cattle’s history gives them confidence, but with capital invested at each turn, it still takes more than a little faith.
“We prayed that if it was God’s will, that the doors would open, and they did open,” Marvin says. “And the biggest thing was when they did open, to have the faith to walk through the door and keep going.”        
CAB recognized its 2020 honorees at the brand’s virtual annual conference on September 23 and 24.    



TFI Releases Fertilizer Industry Economic Impact Study: Contributes $130 Billion to US Economy

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today released the Fertilizer Industry Economic Impact Study, highlighting the importance and economic contributions of the U.S. fertilizer industry to the national, state and local economies. The study found that the fertilizer industry contributed over $130 billion and nearly 500,000 jobs to the U.S. economy in 2019.
 
“The fertilizer industry doesn’t just help grow the food on your dinner table, we also help grow the U.S. economy,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch.
 
Deemed an essential industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, fertilizer manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and distributors have a sustained positive impact on communities all across the nation.
 
“We often highlight that fertilizer is responsible for over half of the world’s food production, meaning without our industry we’d only have half as much food for the planet’s growing population,” Rosenbusch continued. “The data in the study shows that we’re not only feeding the world, we’re also feeding our national, state and local economies through direct and indirect employment and wages, the value of the crops and farm products produced with our plant nutrients, and the transportation and logistical network that moves plant nutrients to the farmers to be there exactly when they need them. The movement of fertilizer alone benefits our economy to the tune of nearly $9 billion annually.”
 
The publication of the study, conducted for TFI by John Dunham and Associates, is the culmination of months of compiling data including the direction contribution, supplier contribution and downstream positive impacts of the entire fertilizer industry value chain – from manufacturers to wholesalers, retailers and goods and service providers.
 
To learn more about the impact the fertilizer industry has on the U.S. economy please visit: http://economicimpact.tfi.org/.
 


Bring Back Whole Milk in Schools or Children’s Health Will Suffer

According to a study published this month in “The Journal of Dairy Science,” researchers have found that children’s repetitive exposure to foods early is a key driver of preference later in life.  The study recognized that a “primary indicator of lifetime milk consumption is a habit developed during childhood.” Since 2008, regulations have restricted higher fat content milk varieties from school lunch programs.  School lunch programs also saw fewer student participants. This culminated in a 14.2% decrease in all milk sold in U.S. schools from 1.835 million kilograms in 2008 to 1.573 million kilograms in 2017.

This same study also states that “adequate consumption of milk and dairy products, especially during childhood, has beneficial health outcomes for growth, development, and reduced risk of osteoporosis, hypertension, obesity and cancer” over a lifetime. School lunch programs make dairy accessible to children, despite whatever socioeconomic limitations they may experience outside of school, but science shows after many years of decreasing school children’s access to higher fat dairy content products, we also decreased their appeal of the milk product. This process prevents the likelihood of children to incorporate dairy as part of a daily healthy diet during school and beyond.  We need to stop denying the dairy industry’s best-tasting milk products from lunch trays across the county  

Not only does schooling educate the minds of the future generations, but it also instills healthy dietary habits through repetitive exposure to balanced diets.  Denying children the tasty and nutrient-packed benefits of full-fat dairy products is doing them a disservice — and is furthermore not scientifically supported.

 It is time the USDA and FDA fix this issue and allow whole milk back in schools.



New Report Examines Cattle Market Issues & Solutions

A new report unveiled today by the American Farm Bureau Federation provides an in-depth examination of the causes and price implications resulting from extreme market volatility in the cattle industry. It also sets the stage to explore policy solutions.  

The Cattle Market Working Group, comprised of 10 state farm Bureau presidents, spent more than two months investigating factors that led to market disruptions following the Holcomb packing plant fire and the COVID-19 pandemic. They invited input and consultation from government and university experts, among others.

The report is designed to equip state and county Farm Bureau organizations with deep insight and policy considerations as Farm Bureau leaders debate policy recommendations for 2021.

“Our cattle producers suffered a one-two punch with the fallout from the Holcomb fire and the COVID-19 pandemic,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The prices families were paying at the grocery store went up, but the prices paid to farmers dropped through the floor. That’s not fair to consumers or producers. We must work toward a more stable, resilient food supply chain that can better endure unforeseen challenges so we can keep America’s pantry stocked while ensuring farmers are paid a fair price for their products.”

Key topics of the report include:

Mandatory Minimum Negotiated Trade
    The working group discussed “triggered”-style mandatory minimum pricing that is set on a region-by-region basis.
    Various and fluctuating levels would be determined regionally, including input from state Farm Bureau members.

Risk Management and Education
    The working group is interested in AFBF working with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to better address concerns from smaller producers.
    Existing risk management tools, such as Livestock Risk Protection crop insurance, could be adjusted to be more affordable for smaller producers.

Small Capacity Meat Packing
    The working group discussed policy solutions that would allow smaller packing facilities to play a larger role in the food supply chain.
    Create incentives for smaller packing plants to become federally inspected.

GIPSA
    Farm Bureau supports strengthening the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s ability to enforce market rules.

Read the Cattle Market Working Group report here.... https://www.fb.org/files/AFBF_Cattle_Market_Working_Group_Final_Report.pdf.



NBB Welcomes Commonsense Deadline for RFS Exemption Petitions

The National Biodiesel Board today thanked House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) for including the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity provision (Title VI, Subtitle D) in the Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019 (HR 4447), which the House passed today. The provision would set a June 1 deadline for annual small refinery exemption petitions, thereby ensuring they are accounted for in the RFS calculations. Further, it would require public disclosure of the volumes of biofuels potentially impacted by the petition along with the name of the petitioner.

Kurt Kovarik, NBB's VP of Federal Affairs, states, "This is a commonsense step to ensure that RFS biomass-based diesel volumes are fully met and to prevent a recurrence of the demand destruction for biodiesel that we've seen over the past several years. Biodiesel and renewable diesel producers have a right to know how many gallons of their product may be lost from RFS volumes when major refiners like Exxon ask for special treatment."



Growth Energy Applauds House Passage of RFS Integrity Act in Clean Energy Package

Growth Energy applauded the inclusion of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Integrity Act in clean energy legislation (H.R. 4447) that passed the U.S. House today. The RFS Integrity Act, authored by Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Collin Peterson (D-MN), along with Reps. Dusty Johnson (SD-At Large), Dave Loebsack (IA-04), Rodney Davis (IL-13), and Roger Marshall (KS-01), would bring much-needed transparency to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) secretive small refinery exemption (SRE) process and ensure refiners meet biofuel blending requirements.  

“After years of EPA mismanagement, this legislation would finally give farmers and biofuel producers a long-overdue peek at EPA’s secretive and destructive process,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “EPA’s lack of transparency on refinery exemptions sends mixed signals to the market and leaves billions of gallons of demand at the mercy of regulatory whim. This long-overdue fix would begin to close the book on abuse and put rural America on a stable footing while we rebuild the agricultural supply chain. We’re grateful to Chairman Peterson and his co-sponsors for their efforts to get this critical legislation through the House of Representatives and on to the Senate.”

Background:
Currently, refiners have no clear deadline from EPA for submitting a request for an SRE. The bipartisan Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act explicitly sets the deadline for refineries to submit an application for an SRE by June 1st in the year prior to the year in which the biofuel targets go into effect. Additionally, the legislation increases transparency into the SRE application process, allowing the public greater insight into who is receiving these waivers and why.



Next Generation Fuels Act Paves Way for Future of Renewable Fuels

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today welcomed the introduction of The Next Generation Fuels Act, legislation to transition to a higher octane fuel in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the future needs of more advanced vehicles. Corn growers support a low carbon octane standard as a means toward boosting long term corn demand for clean, affordable ethanol.

The Next Generation Fuels Act, introduced by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., recognizes the high octane, low carbon benefits of corn ethanol.

Establishing a new 98 Research Octane Number (RON) standard for gasoline and requiring that sources of additional octane result in at least 30 percent fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than unblended gasoline, will ensure the progress already made to lower emissions through cleaner renewable fuels continues. Through advanced engine design features that take advantage of this new fuel, automakers will be able to increase engine performance and significantly improve vehicle fuel efficiency.

“Ethanol is uniquely positioned to not only provide consumers with low-cost options at the pump but also pave the way to future engines that increase efficiency and reduce emissions,” said NCGA President Kevin Ross. “The Renewable Fuel Standard was a game-changer for corn farmers, and the Next Generation Fuels Act builds on that success in advancing our commitment to providing the lowest cost, most efficient, and environmentally friendly fuel available.”

Due to its high octane rating and other properties, ethanol is an efficient octane source. It is also the most cost-effective octane source, providing the greatest efficiency gains at the least cost to drivers while displacing the most harmful components of gasoline. A new 98 RON would support mid-level blends like E25 and E30, which would generate new corn grind.

“Corn farmers have a vested interest in the future of transportation fuels, which is why NCGA began laying the groundwork for this policy several years ago. It’s a real accomplishment for corn growers to see our vision reflected in the Next Generation Fuels Act,” said NCGA Chairman Lynn Chrisp.

Low carbon, high octane fuel such as a 98 RON supports vehicle efficiency gains of at least five percent and reduces GHG emissions from the transportation sector. Blending more low carbon ethanol further decreases GHG emissions and improves air quality by replacing hydrocarbon aromatics.

“Congresswoman Bustos has been a real champion for agriculture and the benefits of low carbon ethanol. NCGA is thankful for her leadership to advance renewable fuels by introducing this legislation, and we look forward to working with her to build support for policies that take greater advantage of ethanol’s benefits,” Ross said.

More information on the benefits of high octane fuels and NCGA’s support for a low carbon octane standard can be found at ncga.com/octane.



Growth Energy Applauds Bustos Push for High-Octane, Low-Carbon Fuels

Growth Energy praised the introduction of legislation by  U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) that would unleash higher-octane, lower-carbon fuels that offer motorists better mileage and fewer emissions. The Next Generation Fuels Act of 2020 requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a new 98 Research Octane Number (RON) standard, limit reliance on toxic aromatic hydrocarbons, and update fuel and infrastructure regulations to expand the availability of mid-level ethanol blends.
 
“There has never been a more urgent need to adopt higher octane, low-carbon ethanol blends in America’s fuel supply, as they are key to achieving clean, healthy air,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We applaud Congresswoman Bustos for charting a path forward that will unleash clean, affordable ethanol to drive decarbonization in our nation’s transportation fleet and save consumers money at the fuel pump.”


Progress on the next generation of innovative engine and fuel technologies has long been a core mission for Growth Energy, which was the first to call on EPA and the state of California to use E30 for vehicle certification and consumer use back in 2012. Both Skor and Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley have testified on the topic to leaders in Congress and the EPA.
 
“With a 113 octane, ethanol is the single most affordable and abundant fuel available to power the higher-compression ratio engines of the future. The sooner we can get those engines on the road and those fuels at the pump, the sooner motorists can enjoy a cleaner, less-costly commute,” added Skor.



RFA Applauds Introduction of Next Generation Fuels Act by Rep. Bustos

The Renewable Fuels Association today hailed the introduction of the Next Generation Fuels Act of 2020 by Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), calling the legislation “the beginning of an exciting new era in transportation fuels policy.” By establishing a high-octane, low-carbon fuel requirement, the bill would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enable greater engine efficiency, and encourage competition and lower pump prices. In addition, the legislation addresses existing regulatory impediments that have slowed the commercialization of high-octane, low-carbon fuels and the vehicles that consume them.

“The Next Generation Fuels Act of 2020 provides a bold and innovative approach to reducing carbon emissions, improving engine efficiency and performance, protecting human health, and removing the arcane regulatory roadblocks that have hindered the expansion of cleaner, greener liquid fuels,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “By establishing the roadmap for an orderly transition to high-octane, low-carbon fuels, this landmark legislation begins an exciting new era in transportation fuels policy. As the world’s top supplier of clean, affordable, low-carbon octane, the U.S. ethanol industry proudly and enthusiastically supports this legislation. We thank Rep. Bustos for her thoughtful leadership and determined efforts to craft and introduce this bill, and we look forward to working together to make this bold vision a reality.”

Specifically, the Bustos bill would establish a certification test fuel with a research octane number (RON) of 98, along with a requirement that the source of the octane boost reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by an average of at least 30% compared to a 2018 gasoline baseline. The legislation also includes a restriction on the aromatics content of gasoline, ensures parity in the regulation of gasoline volatility (Reid vapor pressure), corrects the “R-factor” used in fuel economy testing, provides for an E30 fuel waiver, replaces EPA’s flawed MOVES model, and restores meaningful credit toward compliance with fuel economy (CAFE) and emissions standards for the production of flex fuel vehicles (FFVs).

RFA first began advocating for the creation of a national high-octane low carbon fuel standard in late 2018. As Cooper outlined the industry’s policy priorities at the February 2019 National Ethanol Conference, he stated, “RFA’s vision for the future includes not only strengthening the RFS, but also pursuing a high-octane fuel standard,” including a requirement for 98 RON fuel, limitations on aromatics content, numerous regulatory fixes, and other measures that would “assure air quality improvements, carbon emissions reduction, and consumer savings for decades to come.” This theme was also a centerpiece of Cooper’s 2020 remarks: “We are actively engaged in discussions with lawmakers, legislative counsel, and regulators around a Low Carbon Octane Standard. We are doing the legal work and the economic analysis. And we are working to broaden the coalition of supporters for high-octane low carbon fuels.”

“Even with increased sales of electric vehicles, it is broadly understood and accepted that our light-duty transportation fleet will continue to rely heavily on liquid fuels and internal combustion engines for decades to come,” Cooper said. “As such, we should be pursuing policy solutions that compel improvements in the environmental performance and efficiency of those liquid fuels and internal combustion engines. That’s exactly what Congresswoman Bustos’s bill does.”



Next Generation Fuels Act of 2020 Includes Key Priorities, But Carbon Accounting Approach Undermines Many ACE Members

Today, as the 116th session of Congress nears completion, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-Ill. 17th) introduced the “Next Generation Fuels Act of 2020,” legislation intended to remove regulatory barriers to higher blends of ethanol and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in fuel. The bill would support high octane fuel, limit aromatics in gasoline, ensure all blends above 10 percent ethanol receive the same RVP treatment as E10, and require future vehicles and retail fuel stations to be compatible with E30, among other things. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) was one of many organizations that worked on the legislation with the congresswoman’s office.

“We appreciate Congresswoman Bustos has introduced legislation designed to remove barriers to higher blends of ethanol and which acknowledges future policy needs to be considered in the framework of GHG emissions,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO. “While this legislation contains many of our top priorities, its approach to carbon accounting is flawed and undermines the investment many ACE members have made to reduce their carbon intensity.”

The legislation includes a new clean octane standard which limits aromatic compounds in gasoline and requires octane to be produced from clean sources, defined as fuel with average lifecycle GHG emissions at least 30 percent less than gasoline. The bill’s definition of industry “average” to determine the lifecycle GHG emissions of ethanol, also known as carbon intensity (CI), shortchanges many producers as Jennings explains below:

“Under this legislation, ethanol from a coal-fired ADM facility, whose fuel is similar to the CI of gasoline, would get the same access to the new octane market as the most efficient farmer-owned ethanol facility, whose carbon footprint is at least 50 percent cleaner than gasoline. In other words, the bill as currently drafted would perversely reward ADM for doing nothing to reduce the CI of the fuel produced in its coal-fired facilities and penalize many ACE-member companies that have invested millions of dollars to install technology to reduce the CI of their fuel. We do not believe there is a good rationale for a carbon policy which treats ethanol with a CI that is hardly indistinguishable from gasoline the same as ethanol from a facility that is 50 percent cleaner than gasoline.

“ACE prefers a low carbon fuel policy which assigns each fuel producer an individual carbon intensity score and measures lifecycle GHG emissions to provide credit for farming practices that reduce emissions from fertilizer use and sequester carbon in the soil. Policy with these two components would reward farmers for climate-smart practices and ethanol facilities for making investments to reduce GHG emissions.

“We appreciate Congresswoman Bustos’ leadership on our priority issues, and when the 117th session of Congress convenes, we will work with her and others to expand market access for higher ethanol blends in a way that rewards farmers and individual ethanol facilities while helping address climate change.”



EPA Releases Chlorpyrifos Draft Risk Assessment for Registration Review
ASA Newsletter

On Tuesday, EPA published new draft human health and environmental risk assessments, as well as other documents, for the use of chlorpyrifos. Publication of these documents comes as part of a broader registration review EPA is performing on the chemical, which EPA must conduct on pesticides every 15 years to determine if the product and its labeled uses continue to be safe in light of any new science. EPA is expediting its registration review of chlorpyrifos as part of a commitment the Agency made during a 2014 lawsuit brought against EPA for rejecting a petition to revoke all food safety and other exposure tolerances for chlorpyrifos.

The human health risk assessment (HHRA) has particularly been an issue for chlorpyrifos, as this is the third HHRA EPA has conducted on the chemical since 2014. The challenge stems from available evidence to determine safe levels of potential residues to ensure there is reasonable certainty no harm will occur. The new, very conservative tolerance levels detailed in this draft HHRA would, according to EPA, reasonably ensure any exposures are safe and will not cause harm.

The risk assessments themselves do not change the label for chlorpyrifos, but EPA is expected to publish a proposed interim decision (PID) for a new chlorpyrifos registration next month, which could propose changes to uses, protections, or tolerances for the product. EPA will open a 60 day comment period on the PID, risk assessments, and other documents once the PID is published.

Soybean producers currently use chlorpyrifos in rotation with other chemistries to control aphids, spider mites and other insect pests. Chlorpyrifos is particularly of value for growers who have encountered pest populations that have developed resistance to other available chemistries.



Meat Institute Joins Food and Ag Groups in Calling for Continued US Membership in WTO

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today joined a coalition of 62 leading U.S. agriculture stakeholders in calling for continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

“U.S. membership in the WTO is essential to preserving the rules-based trading system that has paved the way for the significant growth observed in U.S. meat and poultry trade over the last few decades, with 2019 exports exceeding $19.4 billion,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “To remain competitive globally, the U.S. meat and poultry industry depends on strong, enforceable trade agreements that embrace science-based, international standards set forth by the WTO, and other standard-setting organizations. Since its inception, the WTO has helped resolve complex global trade disputes to the benefit of the entire food value chain and American consumers.”

The group sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and leaders of the Senate Finance, House Ways & Means, and Senate and House Agriculture Committees. The letter seeks WTO reforms to enhance American agriculture’s access to foreign markets and to maintain transparency and accountability critical to future export growth that will support American jobs. The letter also identifies characteristics desired in the next WTO Director General, as the current search to replace outgoing Director General Roberto Azevedo enters its crucial final stages.

Throughout the WTO’s first two decades, overall trade in goods has nearly quadrupled while WTO members’ import tariffs have declined by an average of 15 percent. More than half of world trade is now tariff-free. The WTO affords U.S. agriculture producers and exporters most-favored nation treatment in 163 countries, representing more than 80 percent of the global economy. Continued U.S. membership and active participation in the WTO will help ensure that necessary reforms are undertaken, and that the WTO will continue to play an important and effective role in the economic development of the United States and our trading partners.

Signatories of the letter include American Farm Bureau, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, Corn Refiners Association, United Fresh Produce Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and other industry groups.



IGC Cuts Corn Production Forecast By 6 MMT

The global corn harvest will be smaller than expected next year, the International Grains Council said Thursday, as it lowered its forecast for the global grain harvest.

The intergovernmental body lowered its predictions for the 2020-21 corn harvest by 6 million metric tons to 1.16 billion tons. The reduced figure was due to smaller-than-expected harvests in the U.S., China, and the EU, which outweighed an upward revision to forecast for Argentina and Brazil.

Reflecting the revision to corn forecasts, the IGC lowered its total grain production forecasts for next year by 3 million tons to 2.227 billion tons.

The IGC left its forecast for wheat and soybean harvest unchanged.

Despite the downward revision, the IGC still expects next year's corn harvest to be the largest ever. It predicts wheat harvest will also be at a record level of 763 million tons.

The IGC also lowered its forecast for corn consumption next year by 2 million tons to 1.176 billion tons due to reduced industrial use in the U.S. Corn is used to make the biofuel ethanol, demand for which has slumped during the coronavirus pandemic.



Germany Confirms Nine More ASF Cases in Wild Boar

Another nine cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been confirmed in wild boars in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, Germany's federal agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

The new discoveries bring the total number of confirmed cases to 29 since the first on Sept. 10, all in wild animals, and all in the Brandenburg area. No farm animals were involved.

Germany's Friedrich-Loeffler scientific institute has confirmed the latest animals had ASF, the ministry said. The Brandenburg regional government has decided to build a fixed fence to prevent wild boar crossing into Germany from Poland, German federal agriculture minister Julia Kloeckner said, a decision that the federal government had welcomed.

China and a series of other buyers banned imports of German pork this month after the first case was confirmed. Last year China was the main non-EU export market for German pork.

The disease is not dangerous to humans but is fatal to pigs, and a massive outbreak currently ongoing in China, the world's biggest pork producer, has led to hundreds of millions of animals being culled.

Germany had feared a spread of the disease after wild boar in Poland were confirmed only about 10 kilometres from Germany in past months. Several hundred kilometres of temporary cattle fences had been set up along Germany's border with Poland.

A permanent border fence could make a contribution to preventing the further spread of ASF but there would still be unfenced areas along roads and towns, Kloeckner said.



BAYER PLUS REWARDS 2021 PROGRAM YEAR LAUNCHES

Bayer Crop Science is proud to announce the launch of the second year for the Bayer PLUS Rewards grower program – a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance seed and crop protection products. The program is designed to provide growers with more flexibility and rewards on eligible purchases all season long.

Within the Bayer PLUS portal, growers can access all their eligible purchases at once and see how they have earned rewards with increased transparency. Enrollment is evergreen, so growers will not need to enroll again into the 2021 program. In addition, the 2021 program has remained consistent with only subtle changes made to maximize the program value for growers.

Josh VanDeWalle, Bayer PLUS Lead adds, “The continuation of the Bayer PLUS Rewards program is an exciting opportunity. Growers have access to additional tools, products and ways to earn more rewards. The 2021 program year will help growers tackle the toughest challenges with more choice, flexibility and simplicity.”

Bayer retail partners are critical to the success of this program. In 2021, we will continue to improve the tools and communication to retail partners around the Bayer PLUS program both in the retail portal and in email communications. This will help build on an important alliance to bring growers more profitable solutions.

“Bayer PLUS Rewards helps retailers provide flexible choices from our broad portfolio of high-performance products. Establishing a strong partnership between Bayer’s sales force, our retailers and customers creates trust and drives positive business results,” says Chris Turner, U.S. Country Division Head.

By visting MyBayerPLUS.com/calculator growers can access the Bayer PLUS Rewards Calculator, which allows them to maximize rewards with this season’s purchases to invest in their operation. The calculator helps to make key input decisions throughout the season, as growers work through their crop protection purchases with their local retail partner.