Report: UNL Ranked Among Top 20 in Agricultural Sciences in U.S.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is among the top 20 U.S. institutions for academic research in the field of agricultural sciences, according to the 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities Subject Rankings.
The rankings, which were released last month, place UNL’s agricultural sciences research performance at 18th in the United States – the highest ranking of any UNL program. The university ranked 51st worldwide in the subject of agricultural sciences.
“Food and water security are among the most pressing issues facing our world, and UNL researchers are making huge strides in addressing both,” said Mike Boehm, NU vice president and UNL Harlan vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “IANR is also leading the way in ensuring the resilience of Nebraska’s working agricultural lands, its abundant natural resources, and the quality of life of those that call rural Nebraska, home. UNL has long been a leader in agricultural sciences and natural resources, and this recent ranking affirms that.”
In the past year, Nebraska researchers have made progress toward development of crops that are tolerant of heat, extreme cold and drought. They are in the midst of research to aid in the development of hybrid wheat varieties, and leading the way in understanding the human microbiome, as well as in creating standards for the field of phenotyping.
On the livestock side, the researchers are working toward development of vaccines and other protections against two devastating swine diseases. The interdisciplinary Nebraska Integrated Beef System Initiative is bringing together geneticists, ruminant nutritionists, biological systems engineers, grassland ecologists, and others to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the cattle industry. Across both crop and livestock production, researchers are working to develop new precision technology to improve efficiency, conserve water and other inputs, harness data and improve profits.
Both graduate and undergraduate students have the chance to work alongside top researchers, said Tiffany Heng-Moss, dean of UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
“Our students receive a truly immersive education, and they graduate with hands-on experience that prepares them for the increasingly diversified, complex agricultural workforce,” said Heng-Moss.
The 2021 subject rankings include nearly 13,000 institutions in 38 subjects across 91 countries. The rankings are based on indicators including global research reputation, regional research reputation, publications and citations, among other factors. More information is available at usnews.com/education/best-global-universities. Learn more about UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at ianr.unl.edu.
Dairy Discussions: Manure Management Practices Webinar
The Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will host its annual Dairy Discussions Seminar on Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon. The program is sponsored by EcoEngineers, a renewable energy consulting and auditing firm headquartered in Des Moines, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The program will be virtual this year due to health concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The focus of Dairy Discussions this year is manure management systems, opportunities in renewable natural gas (RNG) to maximize profitability in the dairy industry, and the benefits of co-locating a dairy near a biofuel facility in the Midwest. The presentations will include a case study for an Iowa dairy and the minimum project size to make RNG project economics work.
When: 10 a.m. - noon CST,
Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020
Topics & Presenters
“Supporting Dairies in Iowa: How the IEDA can help,” Shelly Peterson, P.E., IEDA
“Successful Manure Systems,” Kris Kohl, Ph.D., ISU Extension and Outreach
“Dairy Opportunities in RNG and Location Benefits” Brad Pleima, P.E., EcoEngineers
Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/453188317265457421?source=Eco+database.
There is no fee to attend the program thanks to the sponsorship of EcoEngineers, but registration is required by Nov. 30. We hope you can join us! Register above to receive webinar and recording information.
Weekly Ethanol Production for 11/6/2020
According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending November 6, ethanol production increased 1.7%, or 16,000 barrels per day (b/d), to a 33-week high of 977,000 b/d—equivalent to 41.03 million gallons daily. Still, production remained 5.1% below the same week last year. The four-week average ethanol production rate rose 1.1% to 948,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.53 billion gallons (bg).
Ethanol stocks expanded by 2.5% to a ten-week high of 20.2 million barrels, which was 3.9% below year-ago volumes. Inventories built across all regions except the East Coast (PADD 1) and Midwest (PADD 2), including a sizable increase (up 1.10 million barrels) in the Gulf Coast (PADD 3).
The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, jumped 5.1% to 8.76 million b/d (134.32 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 6.0% less than a year ago.
In contrast, refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol decreased 0.2% to 834,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.79 bg annualized. This was 11.3% 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 68,000 b/d, or 19.99 million gallons for the week and a 59-week high (since mid-September 2019). This also marks the twelfth time in sixteen weeks that imports were reported. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of September 2020.)
National Institute for Animal Agriculture Named Beef Checkoff Contractor
The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) has again been selected as a contractor for The Cattlemen’s Beef Board. The Beef Promotion Operating Committee selected contractors and approved budgets for the 2021 fiscal year at their annual meeting earlier this fall.
Each year the Beef Checkoff budget is designated to programming that includes research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and safety. NIAA proposed a plan that will allow farmers and ranchers to learn and engage on the importance of responsible antibiotic use in animal agriculture.
“Unfortunately, the responsible use of antibiotics in beef production is one of the most misunderstood topics in beef production,” said J.J. Jones, executive director of NIAA. “Farmers and ranchers are feeling the pressure of an ever-changing landscape of consumer demands. They are required to address the competing priorities of maintaining animal health and meeting the consumers’ pleas for “free from” labels.”
NIAA believes the future of animal antibiotic use will be shaped by consistent, effective communication about scientific collaboration between the animal agriculture sector and its allies in human and environmental health to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Through the approved Beef Checkoff programming, NIAA will create educational communication materials that farmers, ranchers and veterinarians can use on social media, lead a tour at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and host a beef producer roundtable following the 10th Antibiotic Symposium November 2-4, 2020.
USDA to Open Signup for the Conservation Reserve Program and CRP Grasslands in Early 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from Jan. 4, 2021, to Feb. 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021 to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and provide annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
“The Conservation Reserve Program and the many focused programs that come under it, like CRP Grasslands, are some of our most critical tools we have to help producers better manage their operations while conserving natural resources,” said Richard Fordyce, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency. “As one of our nation’s largest conservation endeavors, CRP has proved to protect our valuable resources, and next year’s signup gives our farmers and ranchers an opportunity to enroll for the first time or continue their participation for another term.”
Enrollment Options
CRP―General Signup
Through CRP, farmers and ranchers establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Farmers and ranchers who participate in CRP help provide numerous benefits to the nation’s environment and economy. CRP general signup is held annually. The competitive general signup includes increased opportunities for enrollment of wildlife habitat through the State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.
Grasslands Signup
CRP Grasslands helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, and certain other lands while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and improves environmental quality. A separate CRP Grasslands signup is offered each year following general signup.
Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits. The program marks its 35-year anniversary this December. Program successes include:
- Preventing more than 9 billion tons of soil from eroding, which is enough soil to fill 600 million dump trucks;
- Reducing nitrogen and phosphorous runoff relative to annually tilled cropland by 95 and 85 percent, respectively;
- Sequestering an annual average of 49 million tons of greenhouse gases, equal to taking 9 million cars off the road;
- Creating more than 3 million acres of restored wetlands while protecting more than 175,000 stream miles with riparian forest and grass buffers, which is enough to go around the world seven times; and
- Benefiting bees and other pollinators and increasing populations of ducks, pheasants, turkey, bobwhite quail, prairie chickens, grasshopper sparrows and many other birds.
The successes of CRP contribute to USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda and its goal of reducing the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture by half by 2050. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the department-wide initiative to align resources, programs and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands.
For more information on CRP, visit fsa.usda.gov or contact your local FSA county office.
Apply Now for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) is Dec. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.
“Producers have one more month to get their applications in for this important relief program,” said Richard Fordyce, Farm Service Agency administrator. “Applying is simple and our staff is available to assist every step of the way.”
CFAP 2 will provide up to $14 billion to eligible producers of certain row crops, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, aquaculture and more. All eligible commodities, payment rates and calculations can be found on farmers.gov/cfap. CFAP 2 is a separate program from the first iteration of the program (CFAP 1) and interested producers must complete a new application to be eligible for payment for CFAP 2.
Customers seeking one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer general assistance. This is a recommended first step before a producer engages the team at the FSA county office.
Application Options
Producers have several options for applying to the CFAP 2 program by the Dec. 11 deadline:
- Using an online portal at farmers.gov/cfap. This allows producers with secure USDA login credentials, known as eAuthentication, to certify eligible commodities online, digitally sign applications and submit directly to the local USDA Service Center.
- Completing the application form using our CFAP 2 Application Generator and Payment Calculator found at farmers.gov/cfap. This Excel workbook allows customers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, then signed and submitted to their local USDA Service Center.
- Downloading the AD-3117 application form from farmers.gov/cfap and manually completing the form to submit to the local USDA Service Center by mail, electronically, or by hand delivery to an office drop box. In some limited cases, the office may be open for in-person business by appointment. Visit farmers.gov/coronavirus/service-center-status to check the status of your local office.
USDA Service Centers can also work with producers to complete and securely transmit digitally-signed applications through two commercially available tools: Box and OneSpan. Producers who are interested in digitally signing their applications should notify their local FSA office when calling to discuss the CFAP 2 application process. You can learn more about these solutions at farmers.gov/mydocs.
Producers of commodities with payments based on acreage will use acreage and yield information provided by FSA through the annual acreage reporting process. Producers have the option to complete their application by working directly with their local FSA office or online through the CFAP 2 Application Portal.
All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap/apply. For existing FSA customers, including those who participated in CFAP 1, these documents are likely already on file.
Both CFAP 1 and CFAP 2 are self-certification programs, which means the applicant certifies the information submitted is correct. FSA will soon begin an important step in the internal controls portion of CFAP 1 by conducting spot checks. Producers have been randomly selected using a statistically sound methodology. These CFAP 1 applicants will be contacted by FSA staff and asked to provide supporting documentation to verify the information certified by the producer on their CFAP 1 application.
As of Nov. 9, FSA has paid more than $9.5 billion with more than 576,000 applications for CFAP 2. This builds upon more than $10.3 billion paid through CFAP 1.
In the Coming Year, USTR Must Address Key Trade Barriers Harming U.S. Dairy
Given the national and strategic importance of U.S. dairy exports, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) today released an Executive Summary of its recent detailed analysis of the intricate web of global trade barriers that are hampering overseas dairy sales, to better inform and guide the work of the incoming administration and other policymakers.
The detailed submission to the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) office made late last month was created as part of the USTR’s annual call for input to inform its National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. It outlined nearly 40 pages worth of various challenges and opportunities facing U.S. dairy exports in more than 30 foreign markets.
“Exports are essential to the economic survival of our industry, and it is important U.S. trade negotiators fully understand all of the trade-distorting tricks used to keep high-quality U.S. dairy products out of global markets,” said Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of USDEC. “The USTR has worked hard to address many of these barriers, and USDEC members have benefited from our broad approach to handling issues ranging from trade policy to regulatory hurdles. We stand ready to continue our work alongside USTR and USDA to address these and future trade barriers.”
More than $6 billion of dairy products were exported in 2019, accounting for 15 percent of all U.S. milk production, with more potential to serve consumers overseas and create dairy jobs at home.
“Our comments to the USTR provide a road map for dozens of opportunities to create a more level and consistent global playing field for the U.S. dairy sector,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “The best avenue to stamp out many of these trade tactics that disadvantage American-made dairy products is to strongly convey the message that foreign restrictions on U.S. agriculture must end and that new trade agreements that dismantle trade barriers and put America’s dairy industry on a level playing field are necessary.”
The industry’s submission dedicated the most attention to key markets where trade barriers are limiting U.S. market access, including China and Europe. Foreign countries use policies including high tariffs, retaliatory duties, geographic indications, import licensing, and unscientific health requirements to keep U.S. goods at bay. The submission also focused on the importance of enforcing hard-won gains under existing free-trade agreements, particularly the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
NMPF and USDEC said the United States should prioritize trade deals most likely to yield net positive benefits for dairy and agriculture, such as with the United Kingdom and key Asian markets, including those in Southeast Asia.
Scholarship Programs Expanded: Apply Now!
The National Corn Growers Association will accept applications for a broad variety of college and graduate programs but act now. Applications are due on December 4, 2020.
NCGA will award five $1,000 scholarships to students attending technical school and community college. Students can be enrolled in any degree or certification program. The committee realized that not every student wants or needs to attend a four-year university to be successful in their community.
Students pursuing an advanced degree or working on their doctorate degree can apply for one $2,500 award plus the opportunity to attend NCGA’s Corn Utilization and Technology Conference in 2021.
The monetary award for the NCGA William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program, which is sponsored by BASF, was expanded to $1,500 in 2019 and is available exclusively to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in any subject area.
To be eligible for all three scholarship programs, the student or their parent or legal guardian must be an NCGA member. Scholarship applications must be received by December 4, 2020. Like last year, all scholarship applications will be completed online.
Scholarship recipients will be selected in early 2021. The complete rules and application can be found on our website ncga.com.
The National Wheat Foundation Begins Accepting Applications for 2021-2022 Scholarship Honoring Ag Students
The National Wheat Foundation officially began accepting applications for the Jerry Minore Scholarship, honoring students pursuing a career in agriculture. The scholarship is available to college students for the 2021-2022 academic year with an application deadline of December 31, 2020.
“The scholarship is meant to recognize those students who have shown a passion for agriculture both inside and outside the classroom,” said David Cleavinger, Chairman of the National Wheat Foundation. “Programs like the Minore Scholarship encourage the next generation to teach others the importance of wheat and agriculture and the significant role both play in society.”
The late Jerry Minore was a BASF Senior Market Manager and a liaison to the wheat industry. Since his unexpected death in 2012, BASF has partnered with the National Wheat Foundation to fund scholarships and honor his advocacy efforts for wheat growers. This year the Foundation will be issuing two scholarships for $2,500 each.
“We value our partnership with the National Wheat Foundation and our shared passion for investing in students who have shown a commitment to the agriculture industry,” said Scott Kay, Vice President U.S. Crop, BASF Agricultural Solutions. “There’s no better way for BASF to honor Jerry’s legacy than to support these students as they achieve their ag dreams.”
For more information on how to apply, visit https://wheatfoundation.org/education-and-scholarships/.
NGFA reschedules 125th annual convention to June 2021
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today announced that given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it has rescheduled its 125th annual convention to June 2-4 at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, Calif. This decision was made with the health of NGFA members and guests, staff, speakers and exhibitors as the top priority.
NGFA’s Executive Committee met virtually on Nov. 9 and determined that uncertainty surrounding the pandemic likely will not change significantly enough during the winter months for NGFA to know it can host a quality in-person convention on the originally scheduled dates of March 14-16, 2021.
Before making this decision, the Executive Committee evaluated several potential options and alternatives, but ultimately decided that rescheduling the convention to June 2-4, 2021 (Wednesday-Friday) would provide the most flexibility, certainty and safety at this time.
Bird Flu Found in German Poultry Flocks
Authorities in the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein on Tuesday ordered that all poultry be kept indoors following the discovery of bird flu in two farms in the region.
According to Reuters, type H5N8 bird flu was confirmed in a second poultry farm in Schleswig-Holstein on Monday following a case on another farm in the state last week.
A series of outbreaks of the highly pathogenic bird flu have been reported in Europe in past weeks and Dutch health officials on Tuesday ordered the culling of 48,000 chickens following a separate outbreak on a farm.
Wild birds are believed to be spreading the disease.
Syngenta celebrates two decades of innovation
Syngenta today marked the twentieth anniversary of its founding in November 2000 by the merger of Novartis Agribusiness and Zeneca Agrochemical.
This milestone caps two decades of innovation built on a legacy extending back more than 250 years to the founding of the Swiss chemical company Geigy in 1758. Today, the Syngenta Crop Protection lineup includes 37 seed treatments, 34 herbicides, 44 fungicides and 21 insecticides, while Syngenta Seeds has developed unique, industry-leading traits and trait stacks to help farmers control above- and below-ground pests.
Leading the way in the new decade
The 21st century has been a time of great change and innovation in agriculture as new seed and crop protection technologies have enabled farmers to grow more from less to help feed a growing global population.
According to Vern Hawkins, president of Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, Syngenta is committed to accelerating innovation and moving the agriculture industry forward by understanding farmers’ needs, wants and goals — and satisfying those — better than anyone else.
“In recent years, as the farm economy has become more challenging, Syngenta has responded by delivering innovation in Crop Protection and Seed products, as well as agronomic and farm management decision support services, that help growers more consistently protect and increase their yield potential,” Hawkins said. “We understand that real value for our customers and growers is created when they have confidence that they’re getting what they’re paying for — innovation that helps deliver a measurable return on their investment in their inputs.”
Investing in farmers’ success
Syngenta invests more than $1.3 billion each year in research and development (R&D) globally. That’s more than $3.5 million every day. Last year, as part of the Good Growth Plan, Syngenta also announced a five-year, $2 billion investment to help farmers prepare for and tackle the increasing threats posed by climate change. These investments underscore the Syngenta R&D strategy — to design and consistently deliver products and processes that keep farmers productive, profitable and sustainable.
“For 20 years, Syngenta has been investing in farmers’ success,” said Justin Wolfe, president of Syngenta Seeds, LLC. “Looking ahead, we believe new technologies can change the way we grow and protect crops. By merging our deep understanding of agriculture with world class R&D capabilities, we will continue delivering solutions to help our customers and growers further transform agriculture over the next decade and beyond.”
USDA-HHS Should Put Warning Label on 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines
Press Release
The Nutrition Coalition, a group that aims to bring rigorous science to nutrition policy, is calling upon the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS), the agencies that jointly oversee the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), to put a warning label on the 2020-2025 DGA to ensure that the public is aware that these recommendations are only for healthy Americans.
The DGA has long limited its advice to be for "prevention only” and not for the treatment of chronic diseases. This means that, during the 2020 DGA process, the science on disease treatment was simply not reviewed. Further, the 2020 DGA Advisory Committee made the decision to exclude all studies on weight loss,[1] even though one of the Guidelines’ principal aims has historically been to help people “reach and maintain a healthy weight.”[2]
This means that for the 60% of Americans diagnosed with diet-related chronic diseases, including the 42.4% of the adults with obesity, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines are not for them.[3]
Many people understand that a diet for a healthy person is not the same as a diet for someone whose metabolism has tipped into ill-health. The DGA’s guidance to consume 6 servings of grains per day, including 3 servings of refined grains, plus up to 10% of calories as sugar, cannot be tolerated by a person with diabetes, for example. Unhealthy Americans need to know that the Guidelines may be inappropriate advice for their conditions.
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the U.S., costing $3.5 trillion annually. Obesity alone accounts for nearly 21% of all annual medical spending in the U.S.
The fact that the Guidelines have not reviewed nutrition science for treating disease is especially problematic given our current battle with Covid-19. Diet-related diseases, including obesity, diabetes and hypertension, have consistently been shown to dramatically increase the risk of complications for Covid-19, including higher rates of hospitalization and death.[4] People with these diseases urgently need to receive dietary advice appropriate for their conditions.
“Americans should be warned that our government’s nutrition policy does not apply to the majority of the population. With the next iteration of the Guidelines, we are asking the USDA-HHS to include a prominent warning label on the 2020-2025 DGA to make clear to the public that these recommendations are “For Healthy Americans Only” and are not necessarily appropriate for people with diet-related, chronic diseases,” stated Nina Teicholz, executive director of the Nutrition Coalition. “This will provide Americans with the transparency they need to guide their decisions about dietary choices and whether to follow the DGA.”
The Nutrition Coalition is also urging the USDA-HHS to include dietary options that are appropriate for the range of disease conditions found in the groups receiving meals from the USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs, since a high proportion of these populations have diet-related diseases.
The DGA is used to determine food selections for the roughly $100 billion in USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs, mostly delivered to populations in need. These groups suffer from particularly high incidences of diet-related diseases. For example, 49.6% of African Americans and 44.8% of Hispanics/Latinx have obesity, along with higher rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes. However, when relying on food from the USDA, these populations are receiving a diet designed for healthy people, which is a mismatch for many people in these programs.
The guidelines exert extraordinary influence on American eating habits, driving the advice dispensed to each and every American from doctors, nutritionists, dieticians and other health professionals who shape public thinking about what constitutes a healthy diet. For patients suffering from obesity, diabetes, dementia, high blood pressure or more, professionals provide the government’s one-size-fits-all diet, designed exclusively for healthy people.
“Even though the DGA does not apply to the majority of Americans, the policy is still applied as if it is the gold standard for all people. It’s important for the USDA-HHS to be transparent about the Guidelines and fully inform Americans of its true scope,” added Teicholz.
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