Wednesday September 30 Ag News

 USDA Quarterly Grain Stocks - Sept 30, 2020
Corn Stocks Down 10 Percent from September 2019
Soybean Stocks Down 42 Percent
All Wheat Stocks Down 8 Percent

Old crop corn stocks in all positions on September 1, 2020 totaled 2.00 billion bushels, down 10 percent from September 1, 2019. Of the total stocks, 751 million bushels are stored on farms, down 8 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 1.24 billion bushels, are down 12 percent from a year ago. The June - August 2020 indicated disappearance is 3.02 billion bushels, compared with 2.98 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Based on an analysis of end-of-marketing year stock estimates, disappearance data for exports, and farm program administrative data, the 2019 corn for grain production is revised up 2.67 million bushels from the previous estimate. Corn silage production is revised up 715 thousand tons. Planted area is revised to 89.7 million acres, and area harvested for grain is revised to 81.3 million acres. Area harvested for silage is revised to 6.62 million acres. The 2019 grain yield, at 167.5 bushels per acre, is up 0.1 bushel from the previous estimate. The 2019 silage yield, at 20.2 tons per acre, remains unchanged from the previous estimate. A table with 2019 acreage, yield, and production estimates by States is included on pages 17 and 18 of this report.

Old crop soybeans stored in all positions on September 1, 2020 totaled 523 million bushels, down 42 percent from September 1, 2019. Soybean stocks stored on farms totaled 141 million bushels, down 47 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 382 million bushels, are down 41 percent from last September. Indicated disappearance for June - August 2020 totaled 858 million bushels, down 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Based on an analysis of end-of-marketing year stock estimates, disappearance data for exports and crushings, and farm program administrative data, the 2019 soybean production is revised down 333 thousand bushels from the previous estimate. Planted area is unchanged at 76.1 million acres, but harvested area is revised to 74.9 million acres. The 2019 yield, at 47.4 bushels per acre, is unchanged from the previous estimate.  

All wheat stored in all positions on September 1, 2020 totaled 2.16 billion bushels, down 8 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 705 million bushels, down 4 percent from last September. Off-farm stocks, at 1.45 billion bushels, are down 10 percent from a year ago. The
June - August 2020 indicated disappearance is 695 million bushels, up 4 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Old crop grain sorghum stored in all positions on September 1, 2020 totaled 29.5 million bushels, down 54 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks, at 2.36 million bushels, are down 27 percent from last year. Off-farm stocks, at 27.1 million bushels, are down 55 percent from September 1, 2019. The June - August 2020 indicated disappearance from all positions is 43.1 million bushels, down 20 percent from the same period a year ago.

NEBRASKA SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 GRAIN STOCKS
Nebraska corn stocks in all positions on September 1, 2020 totaled 239 million bushels, down slightly from 2019, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Of the total, 87.0 million bushels are stored on farms, up 2% from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 152 million bushels, are down 2% from last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions totaled 51.2 million bushels, down 20% from last year. On-farm stocks of 14.5 million bushels are up 38% from a year ago, but off-farm stocks, at 36.7 million bushels, are down 32% from 2019.

Wheat stored in all positions totaled 52.3 million bushels, down 27% from a year ago. On-farm stocks of 4.20 million bushels are down 51% from 2019 and off-farm stocks of 48.1 million bushels are down 24% from last year.

Sorghum Off-farm holdings, at 1.06 million bushels, are down 61% from last year.

Oat stocks stored in all positions totaled 1.69 million bushels. On-farm stocks totaled 600,000 bushels, down 40% from 2019 and off-farm stocks totaled 1.09 million bushels.

Barley stocks stored in all positions totaled 187,000 bushels.

IOWA GRAIN STOCKS REPORT
Corn stored in all positions in Iowa on September 1, 2020, totaled 388 million bushels, down 4% from September 1, 2019, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Grain Stocks report. Of the total stocks, 36% were stored on-farm. The June-August 2020 indicated disappearance totaled 690 million bushels, 17% above the 590 million bushels from the same period last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions in Iowa on September 1, 2020, totaled 102 million bushels, 36% below the 159 million bushels on hand September 1, 2019. Of the total stocks, 25% were stored on-farm. Indicated disappearance for June- August 2020 is 179 million bushels, 25% above the 143 million bushels from the same quarter last year.

Oats stored on-farm in Iowa on September 1, 2020, totaled 2.65 million bushels, down 5% from September 1, 2019.



USDA Small Grains 2020 Summary

All wheat production totaled 1.83 billion bushels in 2020, down 5 percent from the revised 2019 total of 1.93 billion bushels. Area harvested for grain totaled 36.7 million acres, down 2 percent from the previous year. The United States yield was estimated at 49.7 bushels per acre, down 2.0 bushels from the previous year. The levels of production and changes from 2019 by type were: winter wheat, 1.17 billion bushels, down 11 percent; other spring wheat, 586 million bushels, up 4 percent; and Durum wheat, 68.8 million bushels, up 28 percent.

Oat production was estimated at 65.4 million bushels, up 23 percent from 2019. Yield was estimated at 65.1 bushels per acre, up 0.8 bushel from the previous year. Harvested area, at 1.00 million acres, was 21 percent above last year.

Barley production was estimated at 165 million bushels, down 4 percent from the revised 2019 total of 172 million bushels. The average yield, at 77.5 bushels per acre, was down 0.2 bushel from the previous year. Producers seeded 2.62 million acres in 2020, down 5 percent from 2019. Harvested rea,
at 2.13 million acres, was down 4 percent from 2019.

2020 NEBRASKA SMALL GRAIN ACREAGE AND PRODUCTION
Winter wheat production is estimated at 34.0 million bushels, down 38% from last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The area harvested for grain totaled 830,000 acres, down 14% from 2019. Planted acreage totaled a record low 900,000, down 16% from a year earlier. The yield is 41.0 bushels per acre, down 16 bushels from last year.

Oat production is estimated at 1.83 million bushels, up 61% from 2019. Area harvested for grain, at 29,000 acres, is up 61% from last year. Planted acreage totaled 135,000, up 13% from a year earlier. Average yield is 63.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from 2019.

IOWA SMALL GRAIN SUMMARY
Oat production is estimated at 5.69 million bushels, up 42% from last year, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Small Grains 2020 Summary. Oats planted, at 170,000 acres, is down 21% from last year. Harvested area for grain is 73,000 acres, up 6% from the harvested acres in 2019. Oat yield, at 78.0 bushels per acre, is up 20.0 bushels from last year.



Nebraska Rural Radio Association postpones annual meeting

Citing concerns with public gatherings and the on-going Covid-19 situation, the Nebraska Rural Radio Association announced that they have postponed their November annual membership meeting until early in 2021.

"We want to continue to be cautious," said NRRA CEO Tim Marshall. "Our board of directors made the decision at our recent quarterly meeting. We actually have been conducting our quarterly board meetings via conference calls since March."

According to NRRA Board President Ben Steffen, safety is of the utmost importance for the organization.

"Our first priority is everyone's health,” said Steffen.  “That is the most important thing, period.  We will alert everyone when a new date has been determined."

The NRRA is the only farmer and rancher owned radio group in the country. Flagship station KRVN in Lexington went on the air in February of 1951.  Through the years, the organization has grown to 14 stations in six markets. In addition to Lexington, the NRRA has radio stations in Scottsbluff, West Point, York, Cozad and Holdrege.



MANAGING FALL PASTURE REGROWTH
Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator
 
Cool season grasses may experience a flush of fall growth under the right conditions.  Utilizing these grasses now can be a source of much needed forage, but may have an impact on next year’s production.  How can you utilize this forage resource in fall pastures?
 
Species like brome, wheatgrass, bluegrass and fescue will often produce a flush of fall growth if moisture is available and as temperatures cool.  Since this flush stays in a vegetative state, quality can be high.  In areas of Nebraska that experienced dry conditions this summer, this may be the first growth from these plants since the rain shut off in June or July.
 
Under these circumstances, using this high quality forage source may seem like an obvious choice, but doing so may do more harm than good.  These plants are already run down by drought this summer. Grazing now can add to that stress, depleting energy reserves even further going into the winter, resulting in decreased productivity and increased weed pressure next spring.  Stockpiling this growth for use after the plant is dormant this winter may be a better option.  This maximizes productivity this fall while still maintaining forage quality, albeit a bit lower than if grazed fresh.
 
On the flip side, in mixed or native grass pastures where these cool season species are invasive, there may be opportunity to control or reduce these gasses with grazing.  Animals grazing these pastures now will seek out this new growth, with limited utilization of more mature warm season species.  Keep a close eye on grazing progress and pull animals once the cool season species have been used and they begin selecting warm season grasses. Follow this with more targeted cool season grazing next spring to weaken the unwanted plants and open the door for warm season grasses to fill in.
 
Remember, to use fall growth, stockpile forage for better stand health and maximum production. For control, target-graze stressed plants headed into winter.



Deadline to Apply for Natural Resource Conservation Funds Approaching

Farmers and ranchers interested in preventing erosion, improving soil health, conserving water and wildlife, or making any other natural resource conservation improvements to their property are encouraged to apply now for funding available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Those interested in receiving funding should sign up before Nov. 20, 2020.

According to Craig Derickson, state conservationist for NRCS in Nebraska, there are several options available to producers.

“NRCS has a whole suite of conservation programs available to farmers and ranchers looking for assistance in improving and protecting the natural resources on their ag land. These programs provide funding on cropland and rangeland, as well as for animal feeding operations and establishing or enhancing wildlife habitat and wetlands. NRCS staff can help landowners and operators identify their options,” Derickson said.

The most widely applied conservation programs in Nebraska are the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

The goal of these conservation programs is to provide a financial incentive to encourage landowners to install conservation practices that protect natural resources, resulting in cleaner air and water, healthy soil and more wildlife habitat.

“Participation in our conservation programs are totally voluntary. We offer assistance that can help make farming and ranching operations more sustainable while conserving the natural resources like soil and water on which all Nebraskans depend, “ Derickson said.

Individuals interested in applying for conservation funds may do so at any time, but the ranking of applications will begin Nov. 20, 2020. The first step is to visit your local NRCS field office and complete an application.

For more information about these conservation programs and other assistance available, visit your local NRCS field office or www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov.



In a Year of Changes, Pork Month Focuses on a Constant

Iowa remains the country's top pork-producing state, even as 2020 has doled out a constant barrage of changes.

Iowa pig farmers and all other essential workers in the pork industry, from truck drivers and veterinarians, to processing plant workers and food retailers, have responded with resilience and creativity to the coronavirus and weather challenges that 2020 unleashed on all of us. That's why the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) will celebrate October Pork Month, or #Porktober20, with a renewed appreciation of not only delicious and nutritious pork, but all the people that are part of this important food system in our state.
 
"Pork is the leading animal protein for consumers across the globe, but our most important consumers will always be those here at home," said IPPA President Mike Paustian. "Porktober20 is when we highlight both the people and the product. It is a celebration of real stories, real farms, and the real way people feel when they enjoy the taste of pork and the way it brings them together."
 
Learn more about pork and Iowa's pig farmers at www.IowaPork.org/porktober-20. There, you'll find quick and affordable pork recipes, videos of Iowans who are part of the pork industry, as well as information about the sustainability of pork production.



ISU: Heavy Rainfall Drives Third of Nitrogen Runoff

Heavy rain events that occur only a few days a year can account for up to a third of the annual nitrogen runoff from farmland in the Mississippi River basin, according to a new study from Iowa State University scientists.

The research, published Friday in the academic journal Communications Earth & Environment, uses innovative computer modeling techniques to quantify nitrogen runoff from land ecosystems into rivers and streams. Nitrogen fertilizers applied to Midwestern agricultural land can make its way down the Mississippi River where it contributes to a hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico that harms the marine life living there. The findings from the study could inform farm management practices, including the timing and application of nitrogen fertilizers, to reduce those effects, said Chaoqun Lu, assistant professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology at Iowa State University and lead author of the study.

Lu has worked for years on harnessing computer modeling to simulate various ecological processes. Her previous work, for instance, looked at how agricultural land stores carbon, a process known as carbon sequestration. For this paper, Lu and her colleagues used modeling approach and publicly available water quality data dating back to 1980 to analyze how precipitation affects nitrogen loading in Midwestern waterways.

Lu said previous studies have shown that years with high rainfall totals also see higher nitrogen loading from land to water bodies. But the new study looked closely at extreme rainfall events throughout the Mississippi River basin, defined as any rainfall that exceeds the 90th percentile of historical daily precipitation records for a location in a given month. Basin wide, extreme precipitation events occurred only 8.6 days per year on average, but they contributed to approximately one-third of annual total nitrogen yields, according to the data.

"What attracted us to look at these questions is that heavy rainfall occurrences can be very localized," Lu said. "You see rainfall here and there, and they occur in different periods of the year. We wanted to see if we could combine long-term monitoring data and modeling tools that account for those differences and get a better look at how they affect nitrogen loading."

Jien Zhang, a postdoctoral research associate in ecology, evolution and organismal biology and co-author of the study, said the occurrence of extreme rain events has trended upward in recent years, which makes the study's findings even more relevant. Zhang said data from previous decades showed heavy rainfall events were more likely to occur in the lower Mississippi basin, but more recent data reveals extreme precipitation events expanding northward to states in the upper Mississippi basin, where nitrogen fertilizers are used more intensively.

Zhang said a better understanding of these trends could inform farm management practices to lessen the likelihood of nitrogen loading in waterways. For instance, farmers could try to apply fertilizers when there's less likelihood of heavy precipitation events in the forecast, or spread out the application of fertilizers after planting into multiple separate applications rather than a single application or application before crops develop. The modeling data show that these strategies could lessen nitrogen loading in waterways without affecting crop productivity.

Other ISU members contributing to this work include William G. Crumpton, University Professor of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology; and Matthew Helmers, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and director of the of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center. Helmers also holds the Brent and Cindy Hart Professorship and a Dean's Professorship in the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 9/25/2020

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending September 25, ethanol production scaled back by 2.8%, or 25,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 881,000 b/d—equivalent to 37.00 million gallons daily and the smallest output in fifteen weeks. The four-week average ethanol production rate declined 1.2% to 913,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.00 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks dropped by 1.5% to 19.7 million barrels, which was 15.2% below year-ago volumes and the smallest reserves since the end of 2016. Inventories thinned across all regions except the Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, lifted 0.2% to 8.53 million b/d (130.75 bg annualized). Gasoline demand remained 6.7% lower than a year ago.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol ticked up 0.1% to 840,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.88 bg annualized. This was 9.0% below the year-earlier level as a result of the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Imports of ethanol arriving into the West Coast were 16,000 b/d, or 4.70 million gallons for the week. This marks the ninth week since the start of July that imports were reported. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of July 2020.)



Retail Prices of Potash, Anhydrous, MAP Show Double-Digit Changes

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be mixed, according to locations tracked by DTN for the fourth week of September 2020.

For the third week in a row, five of the eight major fertilizers were lower while the remaining three nutrients were higher. Yet none of the prices changed by a significant amount, which DTN designates as 5% or more.

The five fertilizers that are lower in price are potash with an average price of $338/ton, down $14; 10-34-0 $457/ton, down $7; anhydrous $425/ton, down $17; UAN28 $215/ton, down $4; and UAN32 $253/ton, down $5.

The three fertilizers that are slightly higher include DAP with an average price of $434/ton, up $4; MAP $453/ton, up $18; and urea $361/ton, up $6.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.26/lb.N, UAN28 $0.38/lb.N and UAN32 $0.40/lb.N.

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be considerably lower in price from a year ago. Anhydrous is 17% lower; UAN28 is 15% less expensive; both potash and UAN32 are 12% lower; urea is 11% less expensive, DAP is 9% lower, MAP is 5% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 3% lower from last year at this time.



 Fischer Votes in Favor of Keeping Government Open

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement after voting in favor of a continuing resolution (CR) to continue funding the government and avert a shutdown:

“I am pleased that through bipartisan cooperation Congress was able to reach an agreement to keep government open. During this process, I worked to ensure that this CR replenishes funding for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). That funding is critical for our farmers. Importantly, this legislation also includes resources for important food aid and nutrition programs.”

Earlier this month, Senator Fischer called on Congress to immediately reimburse the CCC. See her full remarks here.

This legislation, which now heads to President Trump’s desk, will keep the government funded through December 11.



Once again, rural businesses left out of stimulus relief  

Despite bipartisan support, rural small businesses and communities with loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development program will not be included in the latest stimulus package for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The updated Heroes Act, introduced Monday in the U.S. House of Representatives, does not include provisions outlined in the Rural Equal Aid (REA) Act, a bipartisan measure introduced in August by U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA).

“Rural small businesses continue to feel the effects of the pandemic and, while they are doing their best to keep the doors open, they are hurting,” said Johnathan Hladik, policy director for the Center for Rural Affairs. “We are tremendously disappointed in House leadership for choosing to ignore rural entrepreneurs once again.”

Under the REA Act, businesses with loans through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) and the Intermediary Relending Program, as well as loans made to public and nonprofit organizations for community facilities, and to businesses, cooperatives, and nonprofits expanding in rural areas, would have their principal, interest, and associated fees covered for a six-month period.

Those are the same provisions given to businesses with loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed in March. The newly released Heroes Act goes even further, extending that relief to SBA borrowers an additional 12 months.

The REA Act also had bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate, with Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) introducing a companion bill.

Hladik said support for rural businesses and communities is critical and he encourages Congress to include USDA lendees in any forthcoming coronavirus relief legislation.

“These are the loans that keep Main Street vibrant, making it possible for small community financial institutions to grow local economies with local dollars,” he said. “With rural counties producing a disproportionately high number of COVID-19 infections and deaths, we do not believe our priorities should be so easily ignored.”



NMPF Hails Funding Plan, Calls for Further COVID Relief

The National Milk Producers Federation today thanked Congress for sending bipartisan legislation to President Trump that extends government funding until Dec. 11 and urged Congress and the White House to reach agreement on another coronavirus relief package.

“We are glad Congress reached a government funding deal that provides important support to farmers and families who have weathered incredibly difficult challenges all year long,” said NMPF president and CEO Jim Mulhern. “This measure not only avoids a government shutdown; it also ensures that additional COVID-19 assistance can be provided as further needs arise and provides important nutrition assistance to families in need.”

The legislation passed by the House and Senate immediately replenishes the borrowing authority for USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation. The CCC funds farm bill initiatives, including the Dairy Margin Coverage Program, as well as the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, the second installment of which Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced earlier this month. Notably, it includes $8 billion in nutrition assistance and extends flexibility for school districts to make meals more affordable and accessible for students during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

NMPF hopes that, with the government funding debate resolved, Congress and the administration will now agree on another coronavirus relief bill. The House earlier this week released a revised version of its Heroes Act, which again includes important provisions such as a dairy product donation program that would help farmers and consumers. NMPF is continuing its push for additional, equitable support to all producers that reflects the losses they have suffered, no matter the size of the operation.

“The House and Senate both provide support for agriculture in their coronavirus relief proposals, and the House is reaffirming that support,” Mulhern said. “Congress and the administration need to bridge their differences and finalize a bipartisan plan that continues to provide needed disaster assistance to all dairy producers. The issues are challenging, but we believe policymakers are up to the task.”



NCGA Statement: Congress Supports Funding for Farm Safety Net

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Kevin Ross today made the following statement after Congressional passage of a continuing resolution (CR) that provides the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with resources to both ensure that farm safety net programs are not disrupted or delayed this fall and that these resources will not go to oil refiners attempting to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“Farmers have worked with Congress for years to develop and implement effective risk management tools that ensure a stable feed, fuel, and food supply even during the tough times many are facing today.

“NCGA thanks members of the House and Senate from both sides of the aisle who fought to ensure USDA has the budget flexibility necessary to deliver on the farm bill’s commitments and support America’s farmers and ranchers.”



Continuing Resolution Averts Government Shutdown, Provides Support for Hungry Americans and Farmers

With just hours to spare, the Senate today narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution to fund federal agencies through December 11. The bill, which now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature, would also provide nearly $8 billion for nutrition assistance programs, replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and stipulate some Congressional oversight of spending through CCC.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President released the following statement in response to the news:

“Today’s passage of the continuing resolution is an immense relief to farmers, who depend on federally-funded programs to access loans, technical support, and critical market and climate data. These services are always essential but are particularly so right now as we all cope with the added challenges the pandemic has introduced. Simply put, farmers and rural communities can’t afford a shutdown, and we appreciate Congress’s efforts to prevent that from happening. We strongly urge President Trump to sign this bill, which will not only will this bill keep the government running for the next few months, but also help hungry Americans access food and prevent oil corporations from taking advantage of programs meant to assist farmers.”



Free training for supervisors aims to keep young agricultural workers safe

A new, free online training aimed at supervisors of young agricultural workers is available in English and Spanish with a goal to protect younger workers.  https://hwc.public-health.uiowa.edu/protecting-young-ag-workers/

“Youth working in agriculture are injured more often both fatally and non-fatally than youth working in other industries,” said Diane Rohlman, co-principal investigator on the Training for Supervisors of Young Agricultural Workers project with Shelly Campo, both University of Iowa professors. “We want to protect younger workers.”

The training was designed with input from agricultural educators, farmers, producers, supervisors, parents, and agricultural safety and health professionals. The project was supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) through the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute.

Rohlman and Campo focused on supervisors – anyone who trains, supervises or hires young agriculture workers – because they assign tasks in the workplace and are responsible for training and safety, said Rohlman.

Designed for employers, the training is also relevant to parents who have children working on a family farm as well as high school agricultural teachers, 4-H leaders, and FFA advisers. It is available online at no charge and takes about 45 minutes to complete.

Young agricultural workers are not just children. Employers may say, “I don’t hire young workers,” but employ an 18-year-old. Research shows the brain and body continue to develop up to age 25. Furthermore, younger workers may lack experience, be afraid to speak up, engage in risky behaviors or have poor decision-making skills.

It is up to supervisors to ensure they are trained to minimize risk and injury and protect themselves.

The training is unique in that it is based on behavioral change theory, Rohlman said. “In order to change behavior, supervisors need to know what the risks are and believe that young workers are more likely to get injured. If supervisors don’t think there is a risk, they won’t change their behavior,” she said. It is also necessary for supervisors and workers to know what to do to prevent injury and believe that these methods will work.

In other words, you have to know it’s dangerous, know how to mitigate risk, and believe if you make changes it will protect workers, Rohlman said. That concept was factored into the training and how they crafted the message.

One concept the training describes is the teach-back method, in which a supervisor explains a task and shows how to do it, then has the worker describe it back and demonstrate how to do it. The training also teaches supervisors how to ask open-ended questions rather than yes-no questions. “Young workers all over are reluctant to speak up,” Campo said.

Additionally, the training talks about the role of policies in the workplace. “Policies force you to think about how safety needs to be part of a job,” Campo said. Policies need to be enforced and followed by everyone, she said, noting supervisors need to model safe behavior for employees, for example, by wearing a seat belt or not using a cellphone.

“We took what’s called a Total Worker Health approach” when crafting the training, Rohlman added. It takes a broader look at safety both on and off the job and goes beyond injury prevention to overall worker well-being. Non-traditional hazards can impact safety on the job, she said, such as fatigue, mental health, lack of support, distraction and substance use. It’s all part of protecting youth in agriculture, she said.



Pandemic Revealed Need for Structural Reform in the Food and Farm System, NFU Testimony States

Pandemic-related disruptions have exposed underlying weaknesses in our food and farm system, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew told the House Small Business Committee today during a hearing. In both verbal and written testimony, Larew highlighted the need for significant structural reforms to protect farmers and consumers from similar disruptions in the future.

One of the primary contributors to supply chain delays and food shortages has been widespread corporation consolidation, particularly in the meat processing industry. Since 1968, the number of slaughtering facilities has dropped from 10,000 to just 2,773 – representing a 72 percent drop in just 52 years. “As the number of plants has shrunk, many remaining plants have grown in size,” Larew said, citing the fact that “just 50 plants slaughter and process 98 percent of all cattle in the United States.” Similar levels of concentration across the food sector has made the entire industry “less competitive, resilient, and flexible,” to the detriment of farmers and consumers alike.

As a solution, Larew proposed policies that would stem the tide of consolidation as well as build out regional food infrastructure. For the former, he recommended “stronger antitrust enforcement from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Packers and Stockyards division of USDA.” For the latter, Larew pushed for legislation that would support the development and certification of small- and mid-sized processing plants, thus giving farmers “more options to bring their livestock to market.”

Another major problem exacerbated by the pandemic is chronic oversupply. For years, free trade agreements and cheap food policies have encouraged farmers and ranchers to overproduce certain commodities, which has pushed down prices and forced small-scale farmers out of business. In recent months, restaurant closures and shifting demand has made matters worse, as Larew noted in his testimony. “Many farmers and ranchers were left without a market for their products, leading to surplus crops being buried and milk being dumped,” he said. “Other farmers who managed to find a market often had to accept a lower price due to sudden loss of demand.” Overall, farmers are earning 6 percent less for their products than they were a year ago.

Though pandemic aid has helped farmers withstand persistently low prices, “policy changes are needed to address the causes – rather than simply the symptoms – of a broken farm economy.” One way to do this is through a supply management system that would balance farm production with consumer demand. This not only would have helped producers, but it likely would save taxpayer money as well. “If a reserve system had been in place between 1998 and 2010 for major commodity crops,” Larew remarked, “it would have reduced government payments by nearly $100 billion while net farm income would have remained about the same.”



Virtual Sustainability Tour Moves Needle with Influencers

The impacts of COVID-19 have shined a spotlight on sustainability in new ways, with consumer priorities shifting to the food supply chain and topics like food safety, worker safety and animal well-being. Sorting through complex issues to make the most sustainable decisions can be a challenge. However, a recent virtual event pairing online influencers, farmers and food experts demonstrates the power of transparent conversations to foster understanding of how sustainability decisions are made.   

The BestFoodFacts.org Virtual Taste Tour, coordinated by The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), included three virtual discussions involving nine online influencers and 11 experts – farmers, registered dietitians, retailers, veterinarians and university scientists – who answered questions about the benefits and tradeoffs of sustainability decisions.   

Pivotal Shifts
“Food producers are continually seeking ways to be more sustainable. Yet, a change that benefits one area of food production can have unintended consequences in another,” said CFI’s Amy te-Plate Church. “The influencers came away with a new appreciation for the relationships between sustainability attributes and the careful consideration that goes into each decision made by farmers and food producers.”   

The food bloggers selected one of three topics:
    Sustainable food, covering the topics of food waste, fresh and processed foods, food ingredients, biotechnology and food affordability
    Sustainable egg farming, including animal health and welfare, hen housing and food affordability
    Sustainable crop farming, addressing crop practices, technology and precision agriculture, pesticide use, soil health and environmental stewardship

Experts provided several specific examples of how they weigh benefits and tradeoffs and the impacts of decisions around individual practices, products and processes. The conversations resulted in many pivotal takeaways for influencers.

“Speaking to the panel of experts, it was interesting to hear the different perspectives about what sustainability meant to them,” said Lisa Lin, of HealthyNibblesandBits.com. “Sustainable economies, leaving the earth better than what you started out with, implementing practices that keep the business going, the ability to grow food in a way that feeds everyone, protecting people and animals under our care, and meeting future and present food needs while leaving a minimal footprint.”

“After talking with Dr. MacDonald, my perceptions about processed foods have changed,” said influencer Rachael Yerkes with EazyPeazyMealz.com, referring to her discussion in the first virtual event with Dr. Ruth MacDonald, chair of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University. “Processed foods play an important role in food sustainability. We waste a third of the food we produce, and if we can extend life, and make foods shelf stable, it can increase sustainability, and make food more affordable.”

The main takeaway for digital influencer Lisa Longley of WineandGlue.com regarding crop production was how farmers “are constantly striving to be on the cutting edge of technology and to have the most efficient ways of farming.”   

One influencer expressed surprise that food companies have managers or entire departments devoted to sustainability efforts, and that broader food industry partnerships are underway.  

Three Steps to Sustainable Decisions
With food and agriculture industries facing unprecedented pressure to navigate growing public expectations for a sustainable food supply, the stakes are high.

“A variety of organizations are harnessing the increased interest in sustainability to capture opportunity or promote a specific agenda by focusing on a single ingredient, process or practice without accounting for the potential impact on the entire food system,” said te-Plate Church. “That’s why these conversations about tradeoffs and benefits are so important and why decisions must be evaluated carefully.”    

CFI recommends a three-prong approach to navigating sustainability decisions that are truly sustainable.

It begins with setting priorities based on an organization’s values and those of its stakeholders. Defining values provides a framework from which to make all decisions going forward. The second step is conducting a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts – benefits and potential tradeoffs – of a recommended change on the organization, its supply chain and consumers.

“The first two steps lay a solid groundwork for the third, which includes effectively communicating your decisions to organizations that request change and to the public in a way that’s transparent and earns trust,” said te-Plate Church. “If you’ve done your research, you can confidently justify decisions that speak to overarching values like animal well-being, environmental stewardship, food safety or worker safety.”

The Best Food Facts Virtual Taste Tour demonstrates that engaging with consumers about sustainability decisions in farming and food can make a difference. In this particular instance, the nine influencers wrote blogs about their experiences, reaching a combined audience of over 10 million followers with nearly 800,000 views of the virtual tour videos. It speaks to the power of trusted, credible sources reaching the right audiences with the information they’re craving.   

“It’s hard to know where to get your information from. It’s really nice to hear from people who are directly in the business,” said Cathy Trochelman of LemonTreeDwelling.com, “because that’s the perspective I believe I can trust.”

Learn more about the virtual tour at www.BestFoodFacts.org/optimizing-sustainability and the CFI Optimizing Sustainability framework at www.optimizingsustainability.org.



Ethanol Again Fuels Crappie Masters National Champion
Robert White, Vice President of Industry Relations, Renewable Fuels Assoc.

This last weekend, the Crappie Masters National Tournament Trail hosted its National Championship on the Ouachita River near Monroe, LA. More than one hundred teams competed in the two-day tournament. However, there could only be one winner—and Eric Cagle was crowned the National Champion for his 14 fish weighing a total of 28.81 pounds. Stakes were high with a grand prize of $30,000, which Cagle took home along with a $2,000 bonus from the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council for using E10 in his boat.

When interviewed by Brian Sowers, the voice of Crappie Masters, Cagle was quick to comment on the dependability of the E10 fuel and said it’s all he’s ever used in the 1200 hours he’s run his boat.

The tournament weekend attracts crappie anglers from across the country and provides us with a national audience to educate avid boaters, oftentimes one of ethanol’s most strongest critics. Due to our sponsorship, the Crappie Masters team helps us tell our message that ethanol is safe to use in marine engines, has performance and environmental benefits, and higher blends beyond E10 are great for your light duty and tow vehicles. Every National Tournament Champion in the past six years fueled their boats with E10, as well as dozens of state and national tournament winners over the years.

One of the ethanol’s most vocal advocates is Brian Sowers himself, who also spoke at the 2020 National Ethanol Conference. “I have an 18 foot Nitro that has a 1992 motor on it… I’m one of those guys that when I pull up to the pump, [E10 is] the cheapest gas I can get. It’s never been in the shop and it runs like a top.”

Partnership with Crappie Masters
The partnership with Crappie Masters is now four years strong and 2020 started off with great promise. Back in January, the 2020 Crappie Masters tournament season had begun, and numerous state chapters were ready to kick off their busy seasons. The new format introduced this year would take the co-title sponsorship of the Renewable Fuels Association and the National Corn Growers Association to new levels and expand by more than sixty tournaments.

Then the pandemic hit, and like everything else, tournaments were halted for a period of time. Fortunately for us and avid anglers, several states started loosening COVID restrictions and lockdowns in late April and early May, allowing many state chapters to resume hosting tournaments with appropriate protocols in place to keep folks safe.

The heat of the summer is usually when teams prepare and work to qualify for the National Championship. This year, it was the only time left to make up numerous tournaments across the country that had been postponed. Kudos to the state chapters, along with the national folks, for getting nearly all these tournaments completed ahead of last weekend’s National Championship.

Crappie Masters expects all the state chapters to return in 2021 and hopes to add a few more to the roster. We look forward to the continued education of ethanol-blended fuel in their boats and their tow vehicles!