Tuesday November 17 Ag News

2020 AFAN/WSA Annual Stakeholders Meeting Moves to a Virtual Event

The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) and We Support Agriculture (WSA) will hold their joint 2020 Annual Stakeholders Meeting through a Webinar due to the rise of Covid-19.

The meeting will begin online at 9 a.m. All AFAN and WSA partners and stakeholders are invited.

A panel discussion at 10:30 a.m. will include young producers involved in the areas of the beef, poultry, dairy and pork production.

The AFAN/WSA webinar will include year-end reports by Steve Martin, executive director, Rylee Stoltz, livestock program coordinator, and Kris Bousquet, livestock development director. The reports will present the year’s accomplishments and provide a look into future opportunities for both organizations.

Also included in the meeting will be the presentation of the Sand County Foundation’s 2020 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award to Ed and Leta Olson of Craig, Nebraska.

Anyone interested in participating in AFAN’s 2020 Annual Stakeholders Meeting should visit becomeafan.org to register for the webinar.



Nebraska Ag Expo Postponed to February 23-25, 2021

We want to thank you for your continued support of the Nebraska Ag Expo and encouragement during the uncertain times that 2020 has brought us.

Last Friday the Mayor of Lincoln announced an effort to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and in doing so, all events with a capacity of 500 or more must be postponed until Dec. 7. With our move-in date of December 6th, this is too close for comfort to allow for modifications at that point. It is possible the state of Nebraska could also hit 25% of their hospital capacity with COVID-19 patients in the upcoming weeks, which would likely trigger Governor Pete Rickett’s to tighten restrictions to 10 people for indoor gatherings.

Also most of you are aware that the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has escalated dramatically over the past two weeks in Nebraska and across the country; however, even with all the health and safety protocols put in place, the added risk to all the Expo stakeholders has prompted us to relook at the current dates and general feasibility of the Expo.

After much discussion of these new developments with our Exhibit Committee, Board of Directors of the Association and selected exhibitors, we concur that holding an event in December is not plausible.

We know everyone was looking forward to this great ag event, so the decision has been made to postpone the Nebraska Ag Expo to February 23-25. Hopefully, this will provide adequate time for COVID-19 cases to decline substantially and perhaps even the deployment of a vaccine.

Show hours run 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and 8:30 am to 3:00 pm Thursday. Admission and parking at the Lancaster Event Center are FREE with pre-registration at nebraskaagexpo.com.

The Nebraska Ag Expo is produced by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association in conjunction with local Nebraska and Iowa farm equipment dealerships. The show is sponsored by: Diamond Sponsor – Farm Credit Services of America and AgDirect; Platinum Sponsor – Nebraska Farm Bureau; Gold Sponsors – Stine Seed Company and Sukup Manufacturing; and Media Sponsors – Midwest Messenger and Rural Radio Network.



Nebraska farmer appointed to United Soybean Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has appointed one new Nebraska farmer to serve on the United Soybean Board (USB). Greg Greving of Chapman will join the board of 73 farmer directors across the country.

Greving will be officially sworn in for service at the annual USB meeting in December and will serve a three-year term. This year, USDA appointed eight new U.S. soybean farmers to USB and reappointed 11 directors for an additional term.

“I am looking forward to serving Nebraska on the United Soybean Board,” said Greving, Nebraska farmer of Chapman. “I have experience in international marketing for U.S. soy and I will use that experience as a director on the United Soybean Board to help increase the profitability of the U.S. soy farmer. Overall, it is an honor to represent and serve soybean farmers, both in Nebraska and across the U.S.”

The farmer directors will play a crucial role in overseeing the proper implementation of the soybean checkoff funding to support research, market development and promotional efforts maximizing profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. Greving brings 40+ years of experience in soybean production and additional soybean checkoff experience, which includes the Nebraska Soybean Board (2001-2013) and a previous term on USB (2013-2016).

Greving will join Ed Lammers, Tony Johanson and Ron Pavelka as one of four Nebraska soybean farmers serving as USB directors.



ALFALFA SOIL TEST:  OLSON PHOSPHORUS
– Megan Taylor, NE Extension Educator, Platte County
 
So you pulled some soil cores and now you have the results in your hand, now what? On your soil test results you will want to check out pH, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur. Today we will focus on phosphorus recommendations, specifically for the Olson test results.
 
Phosphorus has three tests that can be completed to test soil P levels: Bray-1, Olson, and Mehlich-3 are the most widely used. These are measured in parts per million (ppm) and recommendations are dependent on dryland and irrigated fields. Values will differ between Bray-1/Mehlich-3 and Olson test results, so carefully look at your soil test before making fertilizer purchases. If your soil tests are greater than 14 for Olson, you do not need to add any phosphorus for irrigated or dryland acres.
     0-3 apply 60 lbs. P2O5/acre for irrigated or 40 lbs. P2O5/acre dryland.
    4-7 apply 40 lbs. P2O5/acre for irrigated or 30 lbs. P2O5/acre for dryland.
    8-14 apply 30 lbs. P2O5/acre for irrigated or 20 lbs. P2O5/acre for dryland.
     
These values can be found online on the CropWatch website under the alfalfa section and include the values for Bray-1 and Mehlich-3. Also depending on your fertilization schedule, you can plan to apply phosphorus in two year increments for dryland fields; take the single year recommendations and double to calculate the two year needs.
 
Remember if you are still wanting to pull soil cores sample at 8 inches or historic depth, collect samples by grid, soil type, or representative area (40 acres or less). Then pull 10 to 15 random soil cores and combine in a plastic bucket to represent one soil sample. Take about a pint of soil and submit to an accredited lab.



2020 Nebraska Farmers Union Convention To Go Virtual  
John Hansen, NE Farmers Union President
    
Posted below is the 2020 Nebraska Farmers Union State Convention Agenda & the two Zoom registration links. NeFU members, the press, and general public will need to attend both the morning and afternoon sessions. Yes, you will need to register twice if you want to attend both sessions. There are no registration fees!

Nebraska Farmers Union 107th Annual State Convention - 107 Years of Service
December 4, 2020 First Ever Virtual Convention

Friday Morning, December 4, 2020

9:30     Call to order:  Convention Convenes, Welcome, Pledge, Prayer, Past Convention Minutes
9:45     NeFU Foundation Elections-- John Hansen, NeFU Foundation Secretary
·  Election of At-Large Member to NeFU Foundation, 1 year term  (Ron Meyer is the current director)
10:00  NeFU Foundation & Education Report—John Hansen
10:15   Nebraska Farmers Union PAC report—Vern Jantzen
10:30   Refreshment Break Sponsored by:  Nebraska Rural Radio Association (What’s in your refrigerator?)
10:40   Farmers Union Midwest Agency, LLP report—Jeff Downing, General Manager

Friday Morning Session 9:00 – 11:00 am....  Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvcuusrzgsG9NB0gmXVnEg-80t1902x6Ou
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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11:00   NeFU Elections:  Report by Elections Chair, Vern Jantzen  (Delegates Only)
·         Introduction of candidates for NeFU Delegates to NFU Convention  (all Delegates vote)
February 28-March 1-2, 2021 Virtual Convention
·         Elect Top Six NFU Convention Delegates--Vote for 1, 2, or 3 candidates
           (Top 3 vote getters are Delegates—next 3 are Alternates)
·         Districts 1 & 5 caucus for additional NeFU District Director Nominations  (2021-2022-2023)
·         Election of District 1 Director (District 1 Delegates only vote)
·         Election of District 5 Director (District 5 Delegates only vote)

For delegates, we will send you the link you will need for the 11:00 to 12:00 voting and election section.

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12:00    Noon Luncheon:  Sponsored by Farmers Union Midwest Agency, LLP
                              Help yourself, and eat on your own!
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Friday Afternoon, December 4, 2020
12:30   NeFU President’s Award presentation to: Ben Gotschall, retiring District 5 Director
12:40   NeFU President’s Award presentation to: State Senator Dan Quick, LD35
12:50   NFU President Rob Larew, NFU Government Relations Report
1:30     A Preview of the 2021 Legislative Session
·         Senator Tom Brandt, LD32
·         Senator Dan Quick, LD35
·         Senator Lynne Walz, LD15
·         Senator Wendy DeBoer, LD10
2:30     NeFU President John Hansen, NeFU President-Convention Wrap Up Remarks  

Friday Afternoon Session 12:30 – 2:30 pm...... Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsd-6gqz8oHdNDhgXGb_jS492zZAXkgMaV
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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If you have questions, call Travis Waldron or John Hansen at: (402) 476-8815 (Office) or you can email us at:  info@nebraskafarmersunion.org. For more updated information, go to: www.nebraskafarmersunion.org.   



Prolonged or intense drought triggers relief options through Livestock Forage Program

Nearly 86% of Nebraska is experiencing moderate drought or worse, and that nearly 12% of the state is experiencing extreme or exceptional drought, according to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map.  

Prolonged or intense droughts during normal grazing periods can negatively impact resources that livestock owners and contract growers depend on. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency offers a relief program meant to help offset forage loss, and it is triggered by the Drought Monitor.  

The Livestock Forage Program (LFP) provides payments to eligible livestock owners and contract growers who have suffered a loss of grazed forage due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period as determined on a county basis.  

The U.S. Drought Monitor (www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu) is a weekly product that analyzes drought conditions across the U.S. and its territories. The Drought Monitor is housed online by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources. Drought Monitor authors synthesize data from dozens of monitoring resources, collaborate with on-the-ground experts and determine and validate whether or not an area is in drought or not, and if so, how severe it is. Conditions are categorized on a scale from abnormal dryness (D0, which is not yet drought) to exceptional drought (D4). LFP eligibility is based in part on those categories.  

If an eligible livestock owner or contract grower who, as a grazed forage crop producer, owns or leases grazing land or pastureland physically located in a county rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor has experienced severe drought (D2) for at least eight consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period, they are eligible to receive assistance in an amount equal to one monthly payment. They are eligible for assistance of an amount equal to three monthly payments if they experience extreme drought (D3) in any area of the county at any point during the normal grazing period. They are eligible for four monthly payments if they experience extreme drought for at least four weeks or exceptional drought (D4) at any time. Experiencing exceptional drought for four weeks during the normal grazing period qualifies for an amount equal to five monthly payments.

 “Since implemented as part of the 2008 Farm Bill, the U.S. Drought Monitor has triggered over $7.3 billion in federal relief to livestock producers through the Livestock Forage Program, said Drought Monitor Author and National Drought Mitigation Center climatologist Brian Fuchs.  “The 2020 drought has been the most significant Nebraskans have seen since 2012-2013, and it has triggered relief options in several Nebraska counties already.”



PReP Rural coalition calls for prioritizing better nutrition to address health disparities of rural citizens, minorities in midst of the COVID-19 pandemic
Press Release
 
A new coalition, which includes several Nebraska co-contributors, is calling on the State of Nebraska to do its part to address the devastating health impacts from a broken food system that has neglected the health and nutrition of rural, and minority residents.

The coalition is made up of a national network that includes both rural and urban Nebraska participants including Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim (South Omaha), Davey Road Ranch (Raymond), Doane University Institute For Human + Planetary Health (Crete), District 6 Nebraska Farmers Union (NE Nebraska), GC Resolve (Omaha), Grain Place Foods (Aurora), Nebraska Communities United (Fremont), Nebraska Sustainable Ag Society (Lincoln), and NOISE (North Omaha).

In PReP Rural’s second Dispatch Action Steps white paper, “Neglecting Nutrition: How a Pandemic Has Exposed Health Disparities In The Rural US”, coalition partners highlight how the lack of nutrient-dense foods and an overabundance of ultra-processed food products in the American diet has led to an increasingly high COVID-19 death toll in the US which disproportionately affects rural communities, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities, and those communities impacted by poverty.

PReP Rural says that the current model of food production is putting people at risk and the food system must be updated to protect the health and well-being of rural and urban residents alike.

4 Key Actions:
-    Healthcare must be accessible to all, and focus on proper health, nutrition, and illness prevention. Access to health care must be available to all Nebraskans.  We should also invest in improved nutrition by investing in farm and ranch businesses to play a larger role in national health care through the production of more healthy food.
-    Invest in a “Just Transition” away from the vertically controlled industrial agriculture system towards biodiverse regenerative food production operations.  Our Nebraska federal representatives should also prioritize modernizing the outdated industrial food system.  The first step is stopping the spread of large animal feeding operations, and helping contract livestock farmers transition their herds back to the land with no risk.
-    Nebraska must work to open up, not-over regulate, local and regional market systems to support healthy food accessibility in all communities.  The Legislature missed an opportunity, with the first wave of coronavirus funding, to invest in small distributed meatpackers who are vital in order for Nebraska communities to maintain consistent nutritional accessibility during COVID-19.  The state should also focus on helping all those eligible enroll for SNAP, rather than controlling when residents can and can’t access this already earmarked Farm Bill funding.
-    K-12 education must prioritize soil health and proper nutritional balance, and not be funded by industrial special interests.  State curriculum should include programming options that have a greater focus on soil health, and good nutrition.

With these four interventions, we can alleviate the worst health outcomes for the growing number of Americans who suffer from chronic illness, primarily those living in poverty. By prioritizing improved nutrition, consumers can also help redirect the food production system into a regenerative direction that promotes healthy soils and improves air and water quality. Improving the U.S. food system protects our minds, our bodies, and our communities from the conditions that make Americans more susceptible to COVID-19 and other health exposures.  Everyone wins when we prioritize good nutrition.



Pork Producers Supporting Blood Donations Across Iowa

While COVID-19 has put a damper on many of our social events, it has also threatened to leave Iowa with a critical shortage of blood donations. Since March, at least 500 blood drives for LifeServe Blood Centers across the state have been cancelled, resulting in the loss of more than 13,000 blood donations. To put that in perspective: a single trauma victim can use 50 units or more during their critical time of need.

To help encourage more blood donations as we head into the holidays, pig farmers from around the state have made a commitment to help LifeServe. Eleven county pork producer groups and the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) are donating $6500 in pork coupons to donors that visit 32 sponsored donor sites in Iowa during the week of Nov. 23.
 
For more details on specific site locations, hours of operations, and how to schedule an appointment, visit https://www.lifeservebloodcenter.org/about-us/hours-locations/.



Emerging Grain Market Conditions and Impacts of Calf Prices
Stephen R. Koontz, Dept of Ag and Resource Economics, Colorado State University

Feed grain and oilseed prices have undergone some dramatic changes over the past couple of months. These changes are indicative of changes to underlying fundamentals in those markets and will impact the value of feeder cattle and calf prices well into next year. It is worth examining the changes to crop market conditions and thinking about possible prices.

Corn and soybean futures have advanced substantially since early August. The 2020 harvest corn contract has increased about $1 per bushel in that time period and the harvest soybean contract has increased roughly double that amount. Importantly, the increases have also been seen in the deferred contracts. DEC 2021 corn is a little stronger than $4 per bushel and NOV 2021 soybeans are just short of $10 per bushel. The price changes communicate more than adjustments reflecting crop conditions and the current harvest. Both are substantial revenue improvements for grain farming next year. Returning to the current crop, both corn and soybean prices appear at a substantial premium to what might be implied by the underlaying market fundamentals. Both crops have excellent yields and modest harvest acreage impacts as related to the late-season storm in the upper Midwest. Crop damage concerns are persistent but appear less impactful in the context of USDA reports. Stock-to-use ratios imply more reasonably mid-to-high-$3 corn and mid-to-high-$9 soybeans. That is unless the long-term demand picture is also changing. And there is some evidence that is the case. Corn export demand has been strong but that for soybeans is considerably more so. Consumption of corn is also picking up from ethanol production. The crop market fundamentals are looking more like they did in the years prior to the trade war. Soybean demand may pull considerable acres to that crop and buoy both soybean and corn prices.

While these crop market impacts appear to be revealing themselves, the ramifications are for lower calf and feeder cattle prices. And this is emerging into those markets. $1 higher corn costs translate into about $6-$7/cwt lower feeder cattle prices. This cattle price impact is be exacerbated by dry conditions in the western U.S. and hay prices that are creeping higher. The impact on calf prices will be greater. With the higher grain prices and forage prices, we will see persistent pressure on feeder cattle and calf prices into 2021.



2021 National Ethanol Conference Shifts to Digital Experience
        
The 26th annual National Ethanol Conference, held February 16-18, 2021, will feature a fully digital, interactive format for the first time ever, the Renewable Fuels Association announced today. The industry’s premier event will continue to include the cutting-edge content, prolific speakers, and networking opportunities that attendees have come to expect, only in a digital format with exciting new features. Registration and agenda details for the event, themed “Essential Energy,” will be announced in the days ahead.

“As RFA prepares to enter its 40th year in operation in 2021, the upcoming NEC will hold special meaning for our organization and the entire industry,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led us to adopt a fully digital format, we are confident the NEC will continue to serve as the largest and most visionary ethanol policy and marketing event for industry leaders and stakeholders. This is a critical time for our nation’s ethanol industry, which faces a changing political landscape, regulatory challenges, and uncertainty in the marketplace. But it is also a time of incredible opportunity for low-carbon renewable fuels, and NEC will serve as an excellent forum for exploring the strategies and approaches that will facilitate continued success for our essential industry in the future.”

RFA said the digital format will enable broader participation, provide attendees the flexibility to view content live in real-time or on-demand, and offer unique networking and business development opportunities.

The NEC is the nation’s most widely attended executive-level conference for the ethanol industry, providing an unequaled opportunity to engage key decision makers and industry executives about the latest opportunities and challenges affecting the industry today. Last year’s conference, which featured President George W. Bush as a special guest, attracted approximately 1,000 industry professionals representing 39 states, the District of Columbia, and 18 countries.

For more information, visit www.NationalEthanolConference.com.



ABA, Farmer Mac Joint Ag Lender Survey Reveals Top Concerns in an Uncertain Year

As the farm economy continues to work through a prolonged downturn in the midst of an unparalleled, global economic dislocation, ag lenders remain focused on credit quality, according to the Fall 2020 Agricultural Lender Survey report produced jointly by the American Bankers Association and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, more commonly known as Farmer Mac. When it comes to their customers, lenders continue to be most concerned about liquidity, income and leverage. Uncertainty regarding tariffs and trade, the weather, and the impacts of COVID-19 and the resulting economic downturn are close behind.

“Facing a global pandemic and an unprecedented economic downturn, agricultural lenders’ concerns for both their institutions and ag borrowers remain focused on business fundamentals,” said Tyler Mondres, director of research at ABA. “With a deep understanding of both the ag sector and its cycles, lenders remain prepared to continue providing support to the farm economy through these challenging times.”

Farm Income and Profitability
The agricultural economy and farm income remained stressed in 2020. On average, lenders reported that just under 51% of their agricultural borrowers were profitable in 2020, down from 57% last year. About half of the lenders surveyed did not expect borrower profitability to improve in 2021 at the time of this survey. Respondents expressed the most concern for the grain, dairy and cattle sectors. Lender concerns for vegetables, poultry, and fruits and nuts declined compared to the previous survey results.

According to the survey results, banks that have been more heavily impacted by COVID-19 loan modifications also reported lower producer profit expectations. Many institutions reported modifying ag borrower loans due to either the coronavirus or the resulting economic turbulence. Of the banks that indicated that they had modified at least a quarter of their agricultural loan portfolio as a result of the pandemic, 46% reported average profit expectations for 2020. For banks that had modified less than 10% of their agricultural loans as a result of the pandemic, average profit expectations were just over 53%.

Despite the uncertainty through 2020, 31.2% of lenders reported that they expect borrowers to make investments in agricultural technology, with similar expectations for 2021 (27.3%). The survey results indicated some regional differences: almost half of lenders in the South expected farm technology investments to increase through 2020, while less than 30% of lenders from Cornbelt and Plains states said the same.

According to the report, producers are also asking their lenders about funding to develop alternative sources of income or to implement cost mitigation. Forty-three percent of survey respondents reported receiving inquiries from their borrowers about financing hemp production and just over one-third of respondents said that borrowers are asking about financing for renewable energy projects.

Lender Sentiments and Lending Conditions
Lenders continue to be most concerned about the liquidity, income and leverage of producers. Uncertainty regarding tariffs and trade, the weather, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn are close behind. While concern about the pandemic was lower than that for borrower financial strength, 87.4% of respondents noted that ag borrowers’ reliance on government payments in 2020 increased. Lenders reported a high percentage of ag customers inquiring about government programs like the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and Market Facilitation Program (CFAP/MFP, 68%) and the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP, 58%).

While over half of lenders reported that demand for ag production and ag real estate loans was flat over the last 6 months, a significant share reported increased demand (26.7% and 33.3%, respectively), and 82.2% said that overall farm debt increased over the past year.

Survey respondents generally expect higher ag loan delinquency rates heading into 2021 for both production (59.9%) and ag real estate (46.7%), though a majority expect loan charge-off rates to stay about the same (61.5% and 70.4%, respectively). About one in five ag borrowers requested a loan modification in 2020 due to the pandemic and resulting economic downturn.

In spite of the credit quality concerns, lenders still remain positive about approvals. Lenders reported an average agricultural loan application approval rate for new loans of 72.3% in the 12 months leading up to August 2020 and expect the approval rate for renewal requests to be close to 90% in the following 12 months.

“Credit quality and loan performance remained top of ag lenders’ minds this summer amid a backdrop of lower commodity prices and heightened uncertainty surrounding COVID-19,” said Jackson Takach, chief economist with Farmer Mac. “However, lenders reported strong borrower interest in and access to myriad government support programs like CFAP and PPP, and the agricultural commodity markets rebounded significantly since August. Access to capital is a critical component of economic stability, and ag lenders will be a central figure in that equation in 2021.”

The annual ABA and Farmer Mac Agricultural Lender Survey report is a joint effort to provide a look at the agricultural economy and market forces from the unique perspective of ag lenders. To view the full Agricultural Lender Survey Report, please visit aba.com/agsurvey.

For over a decade, the alliance between Farmer Mac and ABA has enabled ABA-member banks to receive Farmer Mac preferred rates for their farm and ranch mortgage loans in addition to useful educational tools and other important benefits to better serve their agricultural customers.



State agriculture officials pioneer climate solutions through new climate alliance

Today, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) announced its participation as a founding member of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA). As the leading officials for agricultural and environmental regulation in the states, NASDA is proud to have contributed to the development of the 40+ recommendations for climate policy solutions also announced by the alliance today.
 
“Through authentic conversations with leaders from the climate, forestry and agriculture sectors, this group has pioneered a strategic plan to achieve our shared goal of empowering farmers to better protect and nourish our natural resources,” NASDA CEO Dr. Barb Glenn said. “With over 100 years of history in leading agriculture in the states, NASDA members know partnerships are key to successfully embarking on industry-shaping change.”
 
FACA’s core principals underscore that agricultural and forestry climate policies must be built upon voluntary, incentive-based programs and market-driven opportunities; they must promote resilience and adaptation in rural communities; and they must be science-based.
 
These recommendations include:
    Providing voluntary, incentive-based tools for farmers, ranchers and forest owners to maximize the sequestration of carbon and the reduction of other greenhouse gas emissions as well as increase the resilience of the land.
    Supporting the development of and overseeing private sector markets for GHG credits.
    Promoting public and private sector tools to incentivize farmers, ranchers, and forest owners to prioritize and scale climate-smart practices.
    Offering incentives for farmers to reduce energy consumption, increase use of on-farm renewable energy, and make continued progress toward reducing the lifecycle GHG emissions of agriculture- and forestry-based renewable energy.
    Streamlining consumer-facing packaging and implementing a public-private partnership to reduce the GHG impact of food waste and loss within the food value chain.
    Increasing federal investment in agriculture, forestry, and food-related research substantially and continuously.

Last year, NASDA Members unanimously acknowledged the urgency of adapting to a changing climate and building more resilient farms and ranches. Emphasizing points that would eventually contribute to the development of the FACA principals, NASDA produced a report with Environmental Defense Fund, now a FACA co-chair, to demonstrate the success of innovative state-led efforts to finance agricultural conservation.
 
“Climate resiliency is an issue agriculture must act upon now with new approaches and technologies,” Glenn said. "We’re eager to leverage FACA’s united voice and work with our federal partners to advance agriculture and natural resource conservation further than we’ve been able to accomplish on our own.”



Alliance Unveils Unprecedented Climate Policy Recommendations

An alliance of groups representing farmers, forest owners, the food sector, state governments and environmental advocates today unveiled an unprecedented set of recommendations to guide the development of federal climate policy.

The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) was formed in February 2020 by four groups that now co-chair the alliance: American Farm Bureau Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and National Farmers Union. The alliance has since expanded to include FMI – The Food Industry Association, National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and The Nature Conservancy.

Together, the group developed more than 40 recommendations based on three principles: agricultural and forestry climate policies must be built upon voluntary, incentive-based programs and market-driven opportunities; they must promote resilience and adaptation in rural communities; and they must be science-based. These recommendations share an overarching goal to do no harm. Climate policies will impact farmers, forest owners, ranchers, rural and limited-resources communities, wildlife and natural resources and must be thoughtfully crafted to account for any potential inequities, consequences and tradeoffs.

“We are proud to have broken through historical barriers to form this unique alliance focused on climate policy,” said Zippy Duvall, FACA Co-chair and President of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We began discussions not knowing whether we would ultimately reach agreement. It was important to me to reject punitive climate policy ideas of the past in favor of policies that respect farmers and support positive change. Our final recommendations do just that.”

“The wide array of perspectives represented in this group — farmers, ranchers, forest owners and environmental advocates — sends a powerful message to Capitol Hill about the urgent need for bipartisan climate legislation,” said Fred Krupp, FACA Co-Chair and President of Environmental Defense Fund. “More resilient farms and forests protect the agricultural economy, reduce risk from the climate impacts that are already here and help prevent worsening climate impacts in the future.”

FACA Co-chair Chuck Conner, President of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, said, “Much as a farmer co-op gets its strength from uniting many producers to achieve a single goal, so too does FACA. Through FACA, the food, forestry and agriculture sectors can speak with a single voice on climate and, leveraging the unique perspectives and special talents of its members, help drive the conversation about the role that the food, forestry and agriculture sector can play in addressing climate policy.”

Rob Larew, FACA Co-chair and President of National Farmers Union, said, “Climate change is adding another enormous variable to the already unpredictable work of farming. Every year, farmers face more frequent and severe weather events, making it just that much harder to make a profit. There are concrete actions farmers can take to build resilience to weather extremes and pull carbon out of the atmosphere, but they need strong policy behind them. The recommendations we’ve compiled are a good place to start.”

Overview of climate policy recommendations
·     Provide voluntary, incentive-based tools and additional technical assistance for farmers, ranchers and foresters to maximize the sequestration of carbon and the reduction of other greenhouse gas emissions, and increase climate resilience.
·     Foster the development of private sector GHG markets. The public sector should ensure that verifiable reductions occur and provide farmers and forest owners with the technical support needed to participate.  
·     Use an array of public and private sector tools to incentivize agricultural and forestry producers to prioritize and scale climate-smart practices.
·     Incentivize farmers to reduce energy consumption and increase on-farm renewable energy production, and make continued progress toward reducing the lifecycle GHG emissions of agriculture- and forestry-based renewable energy.
·     Reduce the GHG impact of food waste and loss by streamlining confusing consumer-facing packaging and implementing a public-private partnership to achieve a meaningful and workable food date-labeling program.
·     Increase federal investment in agriculture, forestry and food-related research substantially and continuously.

Read the full recommendations at www.agclimatealliance.com. They cover six areas of focus: soil health, livestock and dairy, forests and wood products, energy, research, and food loss and waste.



NGFA commends Senate passage of U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020; urges prompt House approval

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today commended the Senate for unanimously approving the U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 (S. 4054) on Nov. 16.

“This legislation, which would reauthorize the U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act for another five years, provides certainty while improving the official inspection and weighing system through more transparency, information-sharing, and better data,” said NGFA President and CEO Randy Gordon. “This legislation is foundationally important in providing for official grain inspection and weighing services through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal Grain Inspection Service, as well as that agency’s maintenance of the U.S. grain standards that are relied upon by buyers, sellers and end-users to merchandise grains and oilseeds in domestic and international markets.”

NGFA said it appreciated the leadership and persistence of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., in bringing this bill to the threshold of passage despite challenging circumstances brought on by COVID-19, and urged the House to enact the legislation promptly.

The Senate Agriculture Committee approved the bill in June, and previously had conducted a hearing on reauthorizing the legislation in 2019, during which Bruce Sutherland, president of Michigan Agricultural Commodities Inc. in Lansing, Mich., and a member of USDA’s Grain Inspection Advisory Committee, testified on behalf of NGFA.

FGIS establishes official marketing standards for grains and oilseeds under the authorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act, which was first signed into law in 1916. The existing authorization law, which was enacted in 2015 and included provisions to ensure uninterrupted export inspections, expired Sept. 30.

In a June 23 support letter to committee leaders, NGFA and the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) supported reauthorizing all expiring provisions of the current law for another five years, including: the ability for Congress to appropriate funding for standardization and compliance activities that have broad societal benefits, including to farmers and consumers; authorization for the USDA Grain Inspection Advisory Committee to continue operating; and the current statutory limitation on the amount of money FGIS can spend on administrative costs not associated with direct inspection and weighing activities.

The U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 also includes several improvements advocated by NGFA and NAEGA that they said will promote increased data and information-sharing to benefit the system and its users, including:
•    Requiring delegated state agencies to notify users of Official inspection or weighing services at least 72 hours in advance of any intent to discontinue such services;
•    Ensuring FGIS user fees are directed solely to inspection and weighing services;
•    Reporting requests for waivers, exceptions and intrinsic quality and food safety factors received and granted by FGIS; and
•    Directing FGIS to complete a comprehensive review of the current boundaries for the officially designated grain inspection agencies in the domestic marketplace.

NGFA and NAEGA also highlighted their concerns about ongoing non-tariff trade barriers that have restricted exports of U.S. grains and oilseeds, noting that the reauthorization bill retains the provision that prohibits the “use of false or misleading grade designations” on official grade certificates for U.S. grain exports.



Helena to Debut Antares Complete Soybean Herbicide Next Year

Antares Complete will make its debut on soybean acres across the country next year after recently receiving federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Antares Complete is a new, multi-powered, pre-emergence soybean herbicide from Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC. With three, proven herbicides in one powerful pre-mix, Antares Complete can be used in soybean cropping systems to eliminate early weed competition with long-lasting, residual control of key broadleaf weeds and grasses.

“As an agronomic company, we know early season weed control is where we can make the greatest positive impact for our customers,” says Mark Wayland, Manager of Herbicide Brands at Helena. “With the amount of prevent acres we’ve seen in recent years, we expect weed banks to be stocked for some time to come. The unique modes of action we’re providing in Antares Complete will give growers the opportunity to strike those weeds preemptively while combating herbicide resistance, which continues to rise at an alarming rate.”

Antares Complete unites sulfentrazone, s-metolachlor and metribuzin in a concentrated formulation that covers more acres than similar herbicides at equivalent field rates. It allows soybean growers to maximize weed control while lowering use rates and reducing the need for re-treatments and tank-mixing. According to Dr. Michael Cox, lead researcher on Antares Complete, it’s that optimized ratio of active ingredients that makes Antares Complete a top-performing soybean herbicide.     

“We’re completing our fourth year of research on Antares Complete, and in that time, we’ve been able to make sure it’s versatile across a broad range of conditions,” says Dr. Cox, Crop Protection Specialist for Research and Development at Helena. “We’ve evaluated its performance in the field and made the right adjustments in the lab to produce a product that will broaden control of extensive weed populations in soybeans.”

Antares Complete will be available for the 2021 growing season, pending approval by state regulatory agencies. Customers are encouraged to contact their Helena representative or an authorized Antares Complete dealer to secure their orders now. Antares Complete is labeled for use in spring and fall pre-plant incorporated, pre-plant burndown/surface, and pre-emergence applications in soybeans. For more information and availability by state, contact a Helena representative, or visit www.helenaagri.com.



COVID-19 Pandemic Has Brought Unprecedented Awareness and Consensus Regarding Factory Farming Risks
ASPCA Press Release

Today the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) released data from a new public opinion survey conducted by Lake Research Partners, showing that the COVID-19 crisis has elevated already high levels of concern about industrial animal agriculture and reinforced the links between inhumane treatment of farm animals and human health risks. Driven by stories that have emerged throughout the pandemic of abuses on industrial farms and slaughterhouses, consumers are seeking out alternatives to factory-farmed meat, eggs and dairy—and there is strong bipartisan support for policies that would check the abuses of factory farming.

The overwhelming majority of the public are concerned about the impacts of industrial animal agriculture on animal welfare, worker and human health, the environment and local communities. But notably, those with first-hand experience—farmers and their families—are not only more concerned about these impacts, they are also twice as supportive of reforms such as a ban on future factory farms than the public as a whole.

"The pandemic has further opened consumers' eyes to the fragility and cruelty of factory farming, and the fact that poor treatment of animals in industrial farms and slaughterhouses presents an enormous threat to public health," said Daisy Freund, Vice President of Farm Animal Welfare at the ASPCA. "This survey shows that the public is aligned with advocates for the protection of animals, workers, public health and the environment who are working with urgency and solidarity to reform industrial animal agriculture. Policymakers should listen to the American people and act urgently to address and prevent the horrific abuses of animals and workers that have occurred during the pandemic."

Key findings of the survey include:
-    The vast majority (89%) of Americans are concerned about industrial animal agriculture – either citing animal welfare, worker safety or public health risks as a concern.
-    85% of farmers and their families support a complete ban on new industrial animal agriculture facilities–almost twice the support of the general public.
-    82% of respondents believe that the government should mandate slower slaughter speeds to protect workers, animals or public health, with a majority (61%) in support of reserving government funds for farmers whose practices are more humane, safe for workers, and reduce the risk of future pandemics.
-    Two-thirds (65%) of the public reported that they believe poor worker protections and harsh working conditions increase inhumane treatment of farm animals, with more than half (57%) believing that this mistreatment increases public health risks.
-    72% of those surveyed who recently heard about animal welfare, worker safety or public health issues related to industrial factory farming reported purchasing less factory-farmed animal products since the start of the pandemic—either seeking out more local animal products, shifting to products with more assurance of animal welfare or consuming less meat, eggs or dairy.

At a time when the country is divided on a number of issues, most of these opinions and beliefs held true across political party, race, gender and regardless of whether the respondent lived in a rural or urban setting.

The ASPCA is working with public health, labor and consumer groups to call on Congress to protect farmed animals and humans impacted by industrial animal agriculture by passing the Farm System Reform Act (S.3221/H.R.6718), which would phase out the largest, most inhumane and destructive factory farms, and the Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act (H.R.7521/S.4338), which would slow breakneck slaughter speeds that currently endanger animals, workers and food safety.

"These findings reaffirm that the vast majority of the public – not just workers - are deeply concerned by how frontline workers have been unnecessarily risking their lives to put food on our tables," said Christina Spach, National Organizer, Food Chain Workers Alliance. "The pandemic has only magnified the already life-threatening conditions inside meat processing and meatpacking facilities. We must hold companies accountable for the lack of basic health and safety protections for their workers and their profit-driven line speeds that will continue to endanger both worker safety and animal welfare beyond the COVID-19 crisis."

"The results of this survey show what we at SRAP see every day in our work: Those who have first-hand experience and knowledge about farming—farmers and their families—also suffer the most from industrial-scale animal agriculture operations in their communities," said Sherri Dugger, Executive Director at the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project (SRAP). "This poll reinforces that there is an urgent need to rein in this dangerous, destructive industry that is devastating farming families and rural communities across America."

"This report illustrates how grossly out of step regulators and industrial animal factories are with the public," said Ryan Talbott, staff attorney with the Center for Food Safety. "The public overwhelmingly supports a slow and more humane slaughterhouse process to protect animal welfare, worker safety, and food safety, yet USDA continues to massively increase slaughter speeds. USDA should protect food system workers, not line the pockets of producers by risking workers' lives and the public's safety from foodborne illness outbreaks."

In addition to advocating for these reforms, consumers can show that there is no market for farm animal cruelty by choosing more plant-based meals and picking meat, dairy or eggs from credible, welfare-certified farms using the ASPCA's Shop With Your Heart resources, including the Shopkind Helpline, a text-based service where shoppers can get a quick response from an ASPCA expert about questions related to farm animal welfare and navigating food labels.

Methodology: Lake Research Partners designed and administered the survey with 1,000 American adults over the internet from a national sample of internet users. The nationwide survey was conducted August 18 - 24, 2020.  The data were weighted slightly by gender, age, region, race, political party identification, and education to match known characteristics of the adult US population. In interpreting survey results, all sample surveys are subject to possible sampling error. With a sample of 1,000 the results of a survey would be within 3.1% of those which would be obtained if the entire population were interviewed; the sampling error is higher for sub-groups. The size of the sampling error depends upon both the total number of respondents in the survey and the percentage distribution of responses to a particular question.  



160+ organizations urge President-Elect Biden to withdraw Heidi Heitkamp from consideration for USDA Secretary
Press Release

A coalition of more than 160 environmental, food justice, sustainable agriculture, workers’ rights, animal welfare, social justice, public health, and anti-hunger organizations sent a letter today to President-Elect Biden, Vice President-Elect Harris, and their transition team opposing Heidi Heitkamp as a potential nominee for USDA Secretary.

Heitkamp, the former U.S. Senator from North Dakota (2013-2018), has been campaigning for the top post at USDA and is considered among the frontrunners for the position.

In the letter, the groups argue that “Heitkamp is the wrong choice for the USDA because she has aligned herself with corporate agribusiness at the expense of family farmers, supports fossil fuel interests, and holds views that are out of step with the Democratic Party and the majority of Americans.”

The letter also points out that there are “many other highly qualified candidates ––including several women candidates and candidates of color.” Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), a longtime member of the House Agriculture Committee and chair of the nutrition subcommittee, has also indicated her interest in the position. She would be the first African American woman to become USDA Secretary.

"With her terrible environmental record and deep ties to agribusiness and the fossil fuel industry, Heitkamp is the wrong person to lead the USDA,” says Kari Hamerschlag, deputy director of food and agriculture at Friends of the Earth. “We need to steer today’s agriculture away from energy-intensive industrial monoculture and factory farming toward diversified regenerative farming. If President-elect Biden is serious about meeting his climate goals, he cannot name Heitkamp as USDA Secretary.”

“Heitkamp's track record speaks for itself: she cares more about corporations than communities," added Navina Khanna, Executive Director of the HEAL Food Alliance, a coalition of organizations representing over two million rural and urban farmers, ranchers, fishermen, food chain workers, indigenous groups, scientists, public health advocates and community organizers across the United States. “Farmers and families across the U.S. deserve leaders who will prioritize their needs over those of corporations. We strongly urge the Biden-Harris administration to name a USDA Secretary who understands the urgency of the moment and will think and act with that in mind - with care for independent farmers, the food system's essential workers, and families all over that are struggling to make ends meet."

Joe Maxwell, President of Family Farm Action explained, “Facing excessive monopoly control of their markets and climate change, our farmers and ranchers need a USDA leader who has the experience and the vision to build a new resilient food system that works for farmers, workers, and local and regional businesses throughout the food system. During her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Heidi Heitkamp has proven she is not that leader; she is part of the problem, not the solution.”

"People's Action had 10,000 conversations with rural voters, and when asked what they saw as the cause of declining conditions in their community, the number one answer was a government that repeatedly chose the needs of big corporations over everyday people," People's Action Director George Goehl said. "Senator Heitkamp, is in the pocket of corporate ag, fossil. fuels and the health insurance industry, and appointing her would confirm people’s fears that Democrats are controlled by the same corporate puppet strings as Republicans. If Democrats want to start winning a larger share of the rural vote, they have to cut the puppet strings and stand with everyday people."