Thursday October 1 Ag News

AGRICULTURE CRITICAL TO NEBRASKA ECONOMY, STATE’S RESILIENCE

Agriculture remains a critical component of Nebraska’s economy, accounting for nearly 34% of business sales, 22% of the gross state product and nearly a quarter of the state’s jobs, according to a new report by University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers.

It’s also a resilient industry. Even during years when farm and ranch incomes are low, other aspects of the agricultural production complex, including ag-related manufacturing, transportation, wholesaling and agritourism, tend to remain strong.

These are among the findings of the 2017 Economic Impact of the Nebraska Agricultural Production Complex report, which the Department of Agricultural Economics released Oct. 1. Ag economists Brad Lubben and Jeffrey Stokes authored the report, along with Eric Thompson of the Bureau of Business Research. The authors will discuss the report in greater detail during a webinar at noon CDT Oct. 1. Details and registration are available at https://go.unl.edu/cgd7.

The study was conducted to provide a benchmark assessment of the economic impact of Nebraska agriculture on the state’s economy. The researchers chose to use data from 2017 because it was the year of the most recent Census of Agriculture, which is administered every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It also happened to be the lowest-income year for farmers and ranchers of the decade.

In 2017, the total output of Nebraska’s agricultural production complex was $81.8 billion, accounting for 33.9% of the state’s total output. The state’s agricultural sector contributed $25.7 billion to Nebraska’s gross state product, representing 21.6% of the total. Even in a year such as 2017 with low commodity prices and modest farm incomes, between one-fifth and one-fourth of Nebraska’s economy was attributed to the agricultural production complex.

“Few other states have an economy with this degree of agricultural prominence,” said Mike Boehm, Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Nebraska and vice president of agriculture and natural resources for the University of Nebraska system. “Even as our cities grow and our economy diversifies, agriculture remains critically important to the economic prosperity of Nebraska, and it will long into the future.”

Agriculture is also a huge driver of employment in Nebraska. Workers engaged in agricultural jobs during 2017 earned an estimated $14.3 billion, including income, wages, salaries and benefits, accounting for 19.9% of all income earned by the Nebraska workforce that year. In total, 321,000 workers — 23.3% of the state’s workforce — were employed in a position connected to Nebraska’s ag industry that year.

Even though commodity prices were relatively low in 2017, producers still hired workers, bought and repaired equipment and made other business decisions that kept most aspects of Nebraska’s agricultural production complex strong. This, Lubben said, shows that farmers and ranchers tend to make investment decisions based on long-term trends, rather than based on a single good or bad season.

It also may explain why Nebraska has been more insulated from the impacts of COVID-19 than many other states, Thompson said.

“COVID is hurting prices, especially for some commodities,” he said. “But it doesn’t mean the ag sector shut down. The sector still is critical to Nebraska’s overall income.”

Lubben said Nebraska saw a similar effect during the recession of 2008-09. For the most part, he said, commodity prices and international trade markets were strong during that time.

“During the downturn, the ag economy buffered Nebraska from the worst impacts felt by the general economy,” Lubben said.

Lubben, Thompson and Stokes expect continued growth for Nebraska’s agricultural production complex. Growing middle classes in China, India and elsewhere are creating new export markets. In addition, advances in technology could lead to growth in agricultural industries including food processing, ag-based manufacturing and biotechnology and transportation.

“Ag today produces more than it did 10 years ago or 20 years ago, and it will produce even more 10 or 20 years from now,” Lubben said. “It’s not withering. It’s only getting bigger.”

The full report is available at https://agecon.unl.edu/agimpact.



Women managing ag land conference to be held across Nebraska Dec. 2

The second annual Women Managing Ag Land Conference will be Dec. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CDT. This conference offers learning opportunities for female farmland owners and tenants looking to improve their business management skills while navigating the challenges of owning and renting agricultural land.

This hybrid event allows participants the opportunity to attend one of three in-person locations or via Zoom. The keynote address, “Finding Happiness in the Craziness of Life,” will be delivered by Kathy Peterson, a farmer from Storm Lake, Iowa, and founder of PeopleWorks, Inc. She will also conduct a workshop, titled “Working with You is Killing Me!”

Peterson’s keynote and workshop will be broadcast live from the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, near Mead, to meeting locations in Kearney and Scottsbluff.  

The in-person locations are:
Near Mead: Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca
Kearney: Holiday Inn Convention Center, 110 South 2nd Avenue
Scottsbluff: Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I  

Due to COVID-19, attendance at the three in-person locations will be limited, and health measures will be implemented. Participants may also live stream the event from their own device via Zoom.  

Participants will also have access to on-demand workshops on owning and renting agricultural land, including: “Improve your Ag Lease by Improving the Landlord/Tenant Relationship,” presented by Extension Educator Allan Vyhnalek; “NextGen: A Win-Win for Beginning Farmers & Asset Owners,” by Karla Bahm, with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture; “Navigating Uncertainty in 2021: Nebraska Land Values & Cash Rental Rates,” with Agricultural Economist Jim Jansen;  and more.  

Registration on or before Nov. 18 is $25 and increases to $30 on or after Nov. 19. Registrations for in-person locations will close Nov. 29. Lunch is included at each in-person site.

This conference is hosted by Nebraska Extension and inspired by Annie's Project. This material is based upon work supported by USDA-NIFA under Award Number 2020-70017-32735 and by Farm Credit Services of America.  



Extension ag financial record-keeping course begins Oct. 22

The next session of “Know Your Numbers, Know Your Options,” Nebraska Extension’s four-part record-keeping course, will be held virtually on four consecutive Thursdays, beginning Oct. 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. Central time each day.

Participants should plan on attending each of the four workshop dates. The course requires participants to have an internet connection.

“Know Your Numbers, Know Your Options” is designed to help farmers and ranchers understand their current financial position and how big decisions like large purchases, new leases or changes in production will affect their bottom line. Participants will work through the financial statements of a case study farm, watch pre-recorded videos, complete assignments and participate in video chats. Upon completion of this program, participants will have a better understanding of how financial records can be used to make decisions and confidently discuss their financial position with their family, business partners and lenders.

The course fee is $20 per participant and class size is limited to 20 people. Register online at wia.unl.edu/know by Oct. 19.

This course is hosted by Nebraska Extension and made possible by Annie's Project, which is supported by Farm Credit Services of America in Nebraska. This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2019-77028-30436.



 Greater Omaha Packing Co. Foundation supports Northeast’s ag project with $50,000 donation

A 100-year-old, family-owned meatpacking business is making an investment in the future of agriculture with a donation to the Northeast Community College capital campaign to construct new ag facilities on the Norfolk campus.

The Greater Omaha Packing Co. Foundation has pledged $50,000 toward the Nexus campaign at Northeast.

Henry Davis, the third generation of family ownership at Greater Omaha Packing, said, “I am especially interested in supporting the investment in agricultural education as a way of offering more opportunities to the coming generations of farmers and feeders.”

Greater Omaha has been in the beef business since 1920, when it was founded by Henry Davis’s grandfather, Herman Cohen. Cohen’s son-in-law, Pennie Davis, joined as a partner in 1945, and later became president. His son, the current president, Henry Davis, joined the company in 1973.

Greater Omaha Packing now has more than 1,300 employees. The company ships beef across the United States and to over 70 other countries. Given its volume of production and sourcing of cattle from feeders and farmers in Nebraska and Iowa, Davis said the company is able to provide a consistent supply of fresh, high quality beef to its customers.

Dr. Tracy Kruse, associate vice president of development and external affairs at Northeast and executive director of the Northeast Foundation, shared her appreciation for the investment from the Greater Omaha Packing Co. Foundation.

“This is an Omaha company with strong ties to northeast Nebraska agriculture,” she said. “Their support of the Nexus project shows their commitment to the future of the beef industry in this area and across the state.”

A new feedlot and large animal handling building are included in the ag facilities currently under construction on the Acklie Family College Farm at Northeast. The initial phase of the Nexus project also includes a farm operations building and a state-of-the-art veterinary technology clinic and classroom building. Construction began in April and the buildings should be ready for students in 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. With a total project cost of $22.3 million, Northeast 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.




Nebraska Corn thanks Lynn Chrisp for service to America’s corn industry

After several years, Lynn Chrisp is concluding his service with the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Board. As NCGA begins its new fiscal year on Oct. 1, Chrisp transitioned out of his role as the chairman of the board. He served on NCGA’s Corn Board for nine years and held the positions of first vice president and president before becoming chairman. In total, Chrisp has been involved in leadership roles with NCGA for 25 years. The Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) and the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) thank Lynn for his dedication to our state’s corn farmers.

“It’s hard to describe the impact Lynn Chrisp has had on our nation’s corn industry,” said Dan Nerud, president of NeCGA and farmer from Dorchester. “He has always been someone I’ve looked up to in my own life. He’s the kind of leader who is truly serving for the betterment of the industry. He’s one-of-a-kind, and I look forward to working with him down the road.”

In total, Chrisp has spent over 30 years serving corn farmers through state and national leadership roles. At the national level, he has served on numerous NCGA action teams over the years and has worked on several issues impacting corn farmers, such as global agricultural trade, production, stewardship, biotechnology and ethanol. His most recent work focused on ethanol’s role as a low carbon, high octane fuel, in which a bill was recently introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives.

On the local level, Chrisp became a member of NeCGA in 1988. He previously served as chairman of NeCGA’s government relations committee with oversight for state and national issues. He also was involved in the planning and implementation of NeCGA’s leadership program to Washington, D.C.  Chrisp was instrumental in leveraging the strengths of NCB and NeCGA to implement a more unified brand under Nebraska Corn.

“Lynn has been a staple in the corn world for a long time,” said David Bruntz, chairman of NCB and farmer from Friend. “Even though Lynn is concluding his time on NCGA’s Corn Board, I expect and hope that he continues to be involved as an active leader in our corn industry. He has a proven track record of success, and our state’s farmers have benefitted from his service.”

Chrisp farms near Hastings with his wife, Michelle. He will continue to serve farmers at the local level with NeCGA, and he also will work with NCGA through its foundation. Away from corn grower activities, Chrisp has served as member and chairman of Nebraska’s Southern Public Power District’s board of directors.



BACON RECEIVES 2020 FUELING GROWTH AWARD

Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) has been awarded the 2020 Fueling Growth Award from Growth Energy, the leading biofuel trade association in the United States. The association’s mission is to represent and support the ethanol industry which is responsible for feeding and fueling America through energy independence, economic advancement, and creating a safer and healthier environment for all Americans.

This award is exclusively reserved for Congressional champions who have supported the biofuels industry and advocated for Growth Energy’s top priorities in 2020, including renewable fuels such as ethanol and consumer choice at the pump.

“I have long supported the ethanol and biofuels industry and believe energy independence is necessary for the future of American jobs in both rural and urban communities,” said Rep. Bacon. “As the second largest producer of ethanol in the country, Nebraska is greatly affected by changes to the RFS Program and the environmental advancements of our time. I thank Growth Energy for this award, and I will continue to be an advocate and push for meaningful legislation and solutions that benefit our environment and provide a sustainable clean energy source.”

“During a tumultuous year for the biofuels industry, Congressman Bacon has consistently advocated for our ethanol producers and farming communities alike,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Nebraska’s biofuels industry is fortunate to have Congressman Bacon in their corner, and we are proud to present him with another Fueling Growth Award.”

Congressman Bacon is also a recipient of the 2020 U.S. Wind Champion Award, 2019 Fueling Growth Award, and American Energy Alliance’s 2018 American Energy Champion. During his time in Congress, he has sought to champion policies that harness the power of renewables, expand carbon capture, and reduce carbon emissions.



This Week's Drought Summary
droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Tropical Storm Beta made landfall on September 21 about 10 pm CDT near Port O’Connor, TX, with sustained winds near 45 mph. Once inland, slow-moving Beta weakened and turned northeastward, crossing the Mississippi Delta before dissipating on September 25 over the Southeast. Nevertheless, heavy rainfall associated with Beta caused local flooding, especially along and near the middle and upper Texas coast. Beta’s heavy rain tracked across an area (centered on Mississippi) experiencing abnormal dryness (D0) and moderate drought (D1), leading to a significant boost in soil moisture. Mostly dry weather covered the remainder of the country, aside from a few showers in the upper Great Lakes region and some beneficial precipitation in the Northwest. Across much of the Plains and Midwest, open weather favored agricultural fieldwork but further reduced topsoil moisture in drought-affected areas. In fact, worsening drought remained a major concern across much of the western half of the country, with adverse impacts on rangeland and pastures. In addition, the return of hot, windy weather fanned several new Western wildfires. Near- or above-normal temperatures prevailed in the West, with the hottest weather occurring in the Four Corners States. As the drought-monitoring period ended on September 29, approaching heavy rain brought the promise of relief to the Northeast, enduring its second major drought in 5 years.

 Midwest
Despite scattered showers, mainly in the Great Lakes region, some areas continued to experience an expansion of short-term dryness (D0) and moderate drought (D1). September 1-29 rainfall totaled just 0.12 inch (4% of normal) in Indianapolis, Indiana, and 0.90 inch (30%) in Saint Louis, Missouri. However, many farmers welcomed the open weather during harvest season. For example, the nation’s soybean harvest was 20% complete by September 27, compared to the 5-year average of 15%.

High Plains
Dry, occasionally breezy weather led to a “flash-drought” situation, with rapid development or expansion of dryness and drought. Several days of summer-like warmth contributed to the drying; in Nebraska, daily-record highs rose to 95°F in Valentine (on September 22) and North Platte (on September 23). On September 24, East Rapid City, South Dakota, noted a daily-record high of 93°F. By September 27, topsoil moisture across the region rated very short to short ranged from 49% in Kansas to 77% in Colorado. Wyoming led the region with rangeland and pastures rated 64% very poor to poor. Colorado producers had planted 66% of their intended winter wheat acreage by September 27, leading the nation (and 9 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average), but only 19% of the crop had emerged (8 points behind average). These statistics—rapid planting but slow emergence—were indicative of dry conditions.

Looking Ahead
Unusually cold air will surge across the Midwest, eventually reaching much of the eastern half of the United States. By October 2-3, widespread freezes should occur from Nebraska and the Dakotas into the Great Lakes region. A secondary push of cold air will subsequently deliver additional freezes across the northern Plains and upper Midwest. In contrast, significantly above-normal temperatures west of the Rockies during the next 5 days will accompany completely dry weather. Elsewhere, periods of light precipitation may occur across much of the eastern half of the country, while locally heavy showers will linger for several days across Florida’s peninsula. A tropical wave over the western Caribbean Sea will continue to move generally westward with some potential for development during the weekend and beyond.

The NWS 6- to 10-day outlook for October 6 – 10 calls for the likelihood of near- or below-normal temperatures in the eastern United States, except across Florida’s peninsula, while warmer-than-normal weather will prevail from the Pacific Coast to the Plains and upper Midwest. Meanwhile, near- or below-normal precipitation across most of the country should contrast with wetter-than-normal weather in northern Maine, much of Florida, and the Pacific Northwest.



Finalists Named for Iowa's 2020 Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin

The top five finalists have been announced for the 18th annual Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest in Iowa. The contest is sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and managed by its restaurant and foodservice committee.
 
The finalists include: The Blind Pig in Cedar Rapids; Birdies, Burgers and Brews in Graettinger; PrairieMoon on Main in Prairieburg; Sasquatch Jacks Hideaway Barroom & Grill in Waverly, and Bents Smokehouse & Pub in Westgate.
 
"It is more important than ever to support our locally owned restaurants and we believe that continuing our annual Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest will help encourage patrons to visit their favorite establishments and especially the Top 5 finalists in the state," said Kelsey Sutter, IPPA marketing and programs director. "The top five finalists scored highly in our first round of judging this summer, which included 40 restaurants from around the state."
 
IPPA received 4,501 nominations for 390 different establishments during the spring nomination period.
 
"According to the National Restaurant Association, around 100,000 U.S. restaurants - including hundreds in Iowa - have closed either permanently or long-term due to the pandemic, so this extra promotion could be a lifeline to stay in business for these Top 5 finalists," said Stacy Kluesner, vice president of the Iowa Restaurant Association and a member of IPPA's restaurant and foodservice committee.
 
The first- and second-place winners will be named later this month as part of #Porktober20, or October Pork Month. "We're excited to announce Iowa's Best for 2020," Sutter said.
 
Any Iowa restaurant, café or tavern that has hand-breaded or battered breaded pork tenderloins on its menu was eligible to be nominated. In order to win, the nominated business must normally be open year-round; however, the IPPA committee took into account the effects of the pandemic and the Governor's orders regarding restaurant operations this year.
 
The winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque, a banner to display, and statewide publicity that will bring in new business.
 
Winners from the past five years (past winners are not eligible for the competition): 2019 - The Pub at the Pinicon, New Hampton; 2018 - Three C's Diner, Corning; 2017 - Grid Iron Grill, Webster City; 2016 - Nick's, Des Moines; and 2015 - The Belmond Drive-In, Belmond.



USDA Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 462 million bushels in August 2020. Total corn consumption was down 3 percent from July 2020 and down 9 percent from August 2019. August 2020 usage included 91.6 percent for alcohol and 8.4 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 3.20 million bushels, down 1 percent from July 2020 and down 4 percent from August 2019. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 411 million bushels, was down 3 percent from July 2020 and down 10 percent from August 2019. Corn consumed in August 2020 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 90.3 percent and 9.7 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.81 million tons during August 2020, down 3 percent from July 2020 and down 10 percent from August 2019. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 898,354 tons in August 2020, up 5 percent from July 2020 but down 30 percent from August 2019.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 260,453 tons during August 2020, down 15 percent from July 2020 and down 15 percent from August 2019. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 252,006 tons in August 2020, down 5 percent from July 2020 and down 4 percent from August 2019.

Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks
Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.24 million tons (175 million bushels) in August 2020, compared with 5.54 million tons (185 million bushels) in July 2020 and 5.33 million tons (178 million bushels) in August 2019. Crude oil produced was 2.01 billion pounds down 5 percent from July 2020 and down 2 percent from August 2019. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.55 billion pounds during August 2020 decreased 2 percent from July 2020 but increased 2 percent from August 2019.

Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 202,547 tons in August 2020, compared with 202,711 tons in July 2020 and 156,132 tons in August 2019. Canola crude oil produced was 171 million pounds, down 1 percent from July 2020 but up 36 percent from August 2019. Canola once refined oil production, at 116 million pounds during August 2020, was down 28 percent from July 2020 but up 60 percent from August 2019.

Cottonseed once refined oil production, at 38.5 million pounds during August 2020, was up 3 percent from July 2020 but down 3 percent from August 2019.



Cattle Producers Welcome House Introduction Of PRICE Act

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today welcomed the introduction of bipartisan legislation to improve the marketing environment for cattle producers.

Introduced by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD.) and bipartisan cosponsors, the Price Reform in Cattle Economics (PRICE) Act addresses several areas of critical importance for cattle producers across the United States. Included in the bill are existing legislative proposals to open new markets for state-inspected beef products, such as the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act, and new provisions to aid producer-owned beef processing facilities and increase transparency in fed cattle transactions.
 
“The Tyson fire in Holcomb, KS and the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have brought the issues of price transparency in the cattle markets and beef processing capacity to a boiling point within our industry,” said Ethan Lane, NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs. “This legislation is a significant step in the right direction as we continue to explore ways to support producers who have been impacted by two major black swan events, in an already volatile cattle market. We are grateful to Rep. Johnson and all the cosponsors for their bipartisan leadership in this space, and will continue working alongside them to see these reforms enacted.”

The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Mike Conaway (R-TX), Darren Soto (D-FL), Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), David Rouzer (R-NC), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Jason Smith (R-MO), Tom Emmer (R-MN), and Jim Hagedorn (R-MN). A section-by-section analysis exploring all provisions of the bill can be accessed here.



Livestock Producers Celebrate Legislation To Protect Calves And Lambs From Vultures

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) today released the following statement in response to the House of Representatives passing bipartisan legislation to protect livestock from predation, compensate livestock producers who experience depredation by federally protected species, and fund methods to reduce conflicts between humans and predators.

Introduced by Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-Del.), the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act contains a number of provisions designed to address impacts that wildlife and wildlife management can have on livestock production.
 
One such provision provides depredation payments for livestock producers who experience livestock losses caused by federally protected species, while also authorizing funding for producers to carry out non-lethal deterrence activities. These are both activities previously funded primarily by affected States, despite the federal protections for animals causing the predation. PLC and NCBA have worked with Congress and federal agencies to provide relief to States and producers through improvements to federal regulations and through compensation programs, and the ACE Act provides relief in both ways.  

"Livestock producers and States face significant burdens when the federal government implements protections for species without any support for the economic and natural resource impacts their decisions can have," said PLC Executive Director and NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources, Kaitlynn Glover. "This is something PLC and NCBA have urged Congress to recognize for years, so this relief comes at a time when producers are contending with losses from multiple events,”
 
“We also applaud the establishment of a specific depredation permitting structure for producers who have experienced losses due to common raven and black vulture depredation. Most of these losses occur during calving and lambing season, with producers experiencing tens of thousands of dollars in losses in any given year. It is imperative that producers have common-sense tools to protect their livestock, their financial security, and local wildlife populations."

The ACE Act also includes funding to improve invasive species control and prevention efforts, a provision designed to develop innovative ways to reduce human-predator conflict, and establishes of a task force to address prevailing concerns about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) that occurs in cervids like deer, moose, and elk. The bill now awaits signature by President Trump.



FFA Embraces Agricultural Education for All

The National FFA Organization is embracing an essential journey to ensure agricultural education and FFA is available and accessible to all.

This week, the National FFA Organization shared with colleagues and stakeholders the new Agricultural Education for All roadmap, which outlines the strategies the organization is taking to support inclusion, diversity and equity. FFA is taking steps to ensure the organization is a bully-free zone that reflects society's demographics in membership, leadership and staff, and celebrates individuality.

"FFA is building the next generation of leaders—and the world needs leaders with diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas and identities. Through agricultural education and FFA, students can take these experiences and apply them in their communities," said Mark Poeschl, chief executive officer of the National FFA. "We want everyone to feel welcome in FFA and know they have a place to belong. It's critical for our members to feel welcome, safe and celebrated as their authentic selves. Making a welcoming environment is important for our organization and for agriculture as a whole. I am excited to share with our staff, members and stakeholders the roadmap of the journey we are taking to achieve these goals."

The Agricultural Education for All roadmap aims to ensure that FFA and agricultural education is a place where tolerance, respect and differences are valued.

Some examples of processes and programs FFA will implement include creating a dedicated inclusion, diversity and equity staff position at National FFA; offering additional gender identity options on all forms, surveys and applications; relaunch the H.O. Sargent Award to recognize individuals who have achieved success promoting inclusion, diversity and equity in agricultural education and FFA; developing Agricultural Education for All immersion curriculum and an online platform to build empathy, respect and inclusion for others; and training educators to be Agricultural Education for All facilitators.

Dr. Roger Cleveland, director of the Center for Research on the Eradication of Educational Disparities, has been working closely with FFA to develop the roadmap.

"After working with FFA for a year and a half now, the leadership has moved from words and conversations to action," Cleveland said. "There have been great strides made to address inclusion, diversity and equity. This roadmap has a systemic focus that will transform the organization."

More information on the roadmap can be found on FFA.org and FFA.org/ag-ed-for-all.  



New Soy-Based Product Protects U.S. Roadways

A new soy-based concrete sealant is protecting roadways in the U.S. — supporting demand for soybeans and reducing maintenance costs for U.S. infrastructure.

The United Soybean Board has partnered with the Indiana Soybean Alliance on research and market development efforts for soy-based solutions in infrastructure for decades. Now, USB and ISA are proud to announce that select Indiana counties have the opportunity to use a new soy-based sealant, PoreShield, on their bridges — made possible through farmers’ checkoff investments. PoreShield is being applied to 77 bridge decks totaling 330,000 square feet within Indiana this year, with aims to expand use in the future. As PoreShield is adopted as a solution, demand for soybeans grows. On average, PoreShield utilizes 200 bushels of soybeans per mile of two-lane bridge treatment. That’s equivalent to 7.5 acres of soybeans for each mile demanded by this market.

“As a renewable alternative, using U.S.-grown soybean oil as a concrete durability enhancer is among one of 1,000 soy-based products currently on the market,” said John Jansen, USB vice president of oil strategy. “It unlocks yet another use that drives demand for our soybeans, and with PoreShield, there’s enormous potential for roads and bridges that need these critical enhancements.”

Water is the enemy of highway structures. Water moves everything on a highway, such as de-icers, salt and chemicals, into concrete pores, where they cause cracks, chips, gouges and potholes. Once the network of concrete pores is compromised, the strength of the concrete crumbles.

In 2008, the Indiana Department of Transportation came to Purdue University seeking a durable and sustainable solution to the costly problem of protecting highway structures. They partnered with USB and ISA and began researching soy methyl ester as an environmentally friendly, longer-lasting alternative. PoreShield is the result of this research and an innovative way to enhance the durability of concrete and provide more than 10 years of protection. This product is the only effective solution to preserving concrete surfaces, old or new. PoreShield increases service life of concrete by 5 times, is safer and easier for applicators (no required personal protective equipment) and reduces costs.

The applicators have already voiced their strong support for the product, noting the ease and speed of application. Application crews also appreciate not having to take as many precautions when working with the product due to its natural components. With the bridges being completed in one day, labor costs were half of what was budgeted for the project.

“I’m a concrete finisher by trade and know firsthand the importance of keeping concrete sealed,” said Carl Anderson, a highway superintendent in Orange County, Indiana. “I was impressed by the product we used to seal the bridge decks. The dry time differs quite a bit depending on the weather and how porous the deck was. I will definitely recommend this product to my fellow superintendents of other Indiana counties. Thank you for this great opportunity.”

ISA partnered with USB to create the Infrastructure Preservation program, which offers Indiana counties the opportunity to use PoreShield on their bridges and made this work possible. And Indiana is just the tip of the iceberg. PoreShield is ideal for states throughout the Midwest that freeze, thaw and require de-icing. For coastal regions with heavy salt content, PoreShield reduces absorption of water and ion diffusion.

“Collaboration between the national soy checkoff and the Indiana Soybean Alliance made this new uses project a reality with their local connections and boots-on-the-ground approach, and what’s neat is that it can be replicated across other states to build further momentum,” said Mark Seib, USB director and farmer from Poseyville, Indiana.

Visit unitedsoybean.org or indianasoybean.com/poreshield to learn more about this soy innovation and others.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for October 2020

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

The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for October is 0.125%, same as in September.

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

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for October, all of which were unchanged from September, are as follows:
    0.125% with three-year loan terms;
    0.250% with five-year loan terms;
    0.500% with seven-year loan terms;
    0.625% with 10-year loan terms; and
    0.750% with 12-year loan terms.



Carson and Meeker Elected to Lead NSP Board, New Directors Appointed

The National Sorghum Producers board of directors recently elected Kody Carson of Olton, Texas, as board chairman and Craig Meeker of Wellington, Kansas, as vice chairman. Dan Atkisson was re-appointed to the board and will transition to the role of past chairman.

”Kody and Craig are strong leaders who will guide our board and industry with intelligence and grit,” Atkisson said. “I look forward to seeing the growth and continued excellence of NSP under their leadership.”

The board also elected new directors Marc Adams of Lubbock, Texas, and Jay Wilder of Snook, Texas, who will serve three-year terms, respectively, beginning Oct. 1.

Adams is the regional vice president for CoBank and serves as an ambassador for an internal program to advance knowledge and understanding of legislative issues that affect Farm Credit and rural America. He is a member of the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council and also serves on the Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Association board.

Wilder is a diversified crop and livestock producer in Snook, Texas, where he grows sorghum, cotton, wheat and soybeans and raises limousin cattle on a farm that has been in his family since 1912. He has served on many state and national agriculture boards, including the U.S. Grains Council and as chairman of the Texas Grain Sorghum Association.

“Marc and Jay both bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the board in their respective areas,” said NSP CEO Tim Lust. “We look forward to the contributions they will offer as we confront issues like international trade, the farm economy and other policy initiatives that are important to U.S. sorghum farmers.”

The NSP board of directors also recognized two sorghum industry leaders who ended their terms on the board Sept. 30. Don Bloss of Pawnee City, Nebraska, has served on the board since 2012. He served as chairman from 2016 to 2018 and as past chairman from 2018 to 2020. Larry Dahlsten of Lindsborg, Kansas, has served on the board since 2014.

“We are greatly appreciative of the leadership and guidance Don and Larry have provided through their years of service,” said Atkisson. “Their dedication to improving all aspects of the sorghum industry is evident by their passion and the time they have devoted on behalf of sorghum farmers nationwide and to the betterment of our organization.”

New directors and officers will take their respective positions on the NSP board Oct. 1. Visit SorghumGrowers.com to learn more.



U.S. Dairy Exports to Benefit from New USDA-FDA Partnership

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will establish an interagency process to further support exports of U.S. dairy products. Both agencies play critical roles in facilitating foreign sales of American-made dairy products, which is recognized and appreciated by the U.S. dairy industry. This MOU will draw upon the expertise of FDA as well as USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to deepen and streamline their work together on the issues facing dairy exports to the benefit of U.S. dairy farmers and manufacturers.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) worked with both agencies to advance this new approach to dairy export collaboration. NMPF and USDEC deeply appreciate the USDA and FDA’s dedication to drafting this new MOU to facilitate U.S. dairy exports and their ongoing collaboration with the dairy industry. Foreign competitors are making advances in international markets, making efforts to expand overseas opportunities for U.S. dairy critical to the long-term health of U.S. dairy farmers and processors.

“Today’s announcement of an interagency MOU on dairy trade between USDA and FDA is the result of years of conversation and efforts between stakeholders within the U.S. dairy industry and the U.S. government to establish consistent guidance on tackling the rising number of export challenges facing our industry. This MOU will help our industry continue to grow in an increasingly competitive global environment,” said Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of USDEC.

“This new partnership ensures that the staff at USDA and FDA are working together in the most efficient way possible to lower barriers for our farmer’s dairy exports. Increasing U.S. dairy exports will strengthen the health of our farmers and rural communities, which is more important than ever as America’s dairy industry faces new and unprecedented challenges. We appreciate all of the hard work from both agencies and stand ready to support the USDA and FDA’s commitment to open new doors for U.S. dairy exports,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF.



Alliance releases report from Taking Action for Animals virtual conference

The Animal Agriculture Alliance released a report today with observations and takeaways for the animal agriculture community from the Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) Conference, held virtually September 19 – 20. The event featured speakers from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Humane Society International, and Humane Society Legislative Fund, all organizations with negative viewpoints toward animal agriculture and meat consumption.

The conference primarily stressed the need for action and highlighted what animal rights groups believe to be victories in recent years protecting wildlife, farm, marine, companion animals and more. Speakers stressed the importance of behind-the-scenes advocacy to change and propose “animal-friendly” legislation at different levels of government.

“HSUS intentionally works to position itself as an animal welfare organization, but their history of advocating for legislation and sourcing policies that hinder our ability to raise animals for food tells a different story,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, vice president of communications at the Animal Agriculture Alliance. “Remarks made by speakers at the recent conference clearly outline the true goals and objectives of this organization, which everyone in animal agriculture and the food industry needs to be aware of.”

Animal rights groups have repeatedly tried to capitalize on the current pandemic to spread their anti-animal agriculture agenda by claiming livestock will be the cause of the next pandemic, and this rhetoric was emphasized at the TAFA conference. “Factory farms poison our environment. Factory farms also create serious risks to public health,” stated Adam Zipkin, counsel to U.S. Senator Cory Booker. Zipkin added, “Scientists are telling us, in no uncertain terms, that the next pandemic is at least as likely to start on a factory farm here in the U.S. as it is at a live wildlife market in some other country.” He attributed this claim to the “rampant use of antibiotics in factory farms” and that these farms are “breeding grounds for viruses such as influenza that can easily jump from farm animals to people.”

Speakers in a subsequent session asserted that the way to prevent future pandemics was to stop confinement of animals and transition to a plant-based diet. Josh Balk, vice president of farm animal protection at HSUS, said the “number one risk has to do with the increased consumption of meat, eggs and dairy. Number two has to do with the intensification of farm animals, or in other words, the caging of farm animals in smaller and smaller enclosures.” In a later session Balk stated, “We’re also passing laws to ban these practices in the state, making them criminal abuses that if they are done, it’s not just frowned upon or ‘hey, this is a bad thing’ – no, these will be criminal activities.”

Another key theme of the conference was claiming that animal agriculture was a major contributor to climate change. “Reputable scientific sources continue to warn us that eating more plant-based foods must happen quickly to ensure the livability of our planet,” said Kari Nienstedt, senior director of council & engagement at HSUS. Nienstedt added that, in addition to promoting meat alternatives, HSUS and other animal rights groups are “working with the largest food companies in the country to get them to mandate that their egg and meat suppliers eliminate cages” as well.

A theme that transcended most sessions of the conference was how to effectively enact “animal-friendly” policies. “Your goal is to become one of the go-to people in your legislator’s district, who he or she will reach out to when they have a question about animal protection,” said Carol Misseldine, senior director of outreach & engagement at HSUS.

The 2020 Taking Action for Animals Conference Report, which includes personal accounts of speaker presentations and general observations, is available to Alliance members in the Resource Library on the Alliance website. The Alliance also has reports from previous animal rights conferences accessible to members on its website.



NACD PRESIDENT TESTIFIES TO CONGRESS ON CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Today, National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President Tim Palmer testified before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry about the challenges and successes of conservation programs in 2020, including during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Palmer owns and operates a farm near Truro, Iowa, where he and his family produce corn, soy, oats, hay and beef cattle.

“It is important for the Committee to understand how important Conservation Technical Assistance is to the successful implementation of conservation planning and farm bill conservation programs,” Palmer said in his written testimony. He described the success of NACD’s Technical Assistance Grants Program, funded in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in helping to boost technical capacity in conservation districts across the country.

Palmer emphasized the role conservation districts play in coordinating locally-led conservation delivery with NRCS, and that the agency needs greater federal hiring authority to address their staff shortages.

“The conservation delivery partnership between conservation districts, state conservation agencies and NRCS, which has existed for decades and is trusted by landowners across the country, is the gold standard,” Palmer said.

In his testimony, he highlighted to Congress the impact of state and local budget cuts caused by the pandemic on conservation districts. Revenue shortfalls or associated budget cuts often trickle down, causing conservation districts to furlough staff members who often are responsible for customer service.

“Cuts to district funding at the state and local level hit at the heart of district operations and may impact capacity for federal conservation delivery as well,” he said.

Palmer also addressed the opportunities for improving soil health through conservation programs, describing NACD’s soil health economics case studies and the way soil health conservation practices improve not only the local landscape, but local infrastructure and the local economy as well.

“It is clear to me that conservation has a crucial role to play, not only for benefits to the environment, but as an engine as we look to recover and rebuild our economy,” he said.