Monday December 7 Ag News

 Nebraska Farmers Union 107th Annual State Convention Completed

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) held their 107th annual state convention in farm homes and offices across the state December 4th using the ZOOM platform. The convention theme was:  “107 Years of Service”.  The attendance was good as NeFU members elected two NeFU Board of Directors and delegates and alternates to the 2021 National Farmers Union convention. The many services NeFU provides were highlighted during the annual meeting.   

NeFU Election Results:   
Delegates from their respective districts elected two NeFU Board of Directors.  Al Davis of Hyannis was re-elected to a three-year term from NeFU District 1. Camdyn Kavan of Lincoln was elected to a three year term from District 5 replacing retiring director Ben Gotschall of Raymond.    

Three delegates from the membership were elected as delegates to the 119th National Farmers Union convention that will be held virtually February 28-March 2, 2021. Laura Priest of Omaha, Bill Armbrust of Elkhorn, and Mike Evnen of Lincoln were elected to represent NeFU as delegates.  Tom Genung of Hastings, Shannon Graves of Bradshaw, and Don Schuller of Wymore were elected first, second and third alternates.

Ron Todd-Meyer of Lincoln was re-elected by the membership to serve on the NeFU Foundation Board, and Al Davis of Hyannis was elected from the NeFU Board of Directors as its NeFU Foundation Board representative.    

President’s Award Winners:
The President’s Award is NeFU’s highest award, and is presented to individuals who provide outstanding service and leadership to family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities at the state or national levels.

This year’s President’s Award winners were retiring State Senator Dan Quick of Grand Island and Ben Gotschall, retiring NeFU District 7 Director who has moved to Maine to work for a non-profit research farm. “Both of these award winners, in their own way, went above and beyond in their commitment to support and serve family farmers, ranchers, and the rural community,” said NeFU President John Hansen. “Rural Nebraska is a better place thanks to their efforts.”

NeFU delegates set policy.  
Vern Jantzen , NeFU Policy chair, moved that the NeFU delegates extend the adopted the 2019-2020 NeFU policy for one year, and that any timely issues not covered in state policy could be presented to the NeFU Board of Directors for their consideration. The motion carried without dissent.  The NeFU State policy is posted on the NeFU website at:   www.nebraskafarmersunion.org.



Midwest Soybean Gall Midge Discussion Series

Join Extension entomologists from four regional universities to learn more about soybean gall midge, a new soybean pest. Join our live, three-part Midwest discussion series to hear research-based updates from the experts. This virtual program will feature several short presentations during each session with plenty of time for questions and discussion. If you can't attend in person, no worries. The sessions will be recorded and you can watch anytime it fits your schedule. Each session is from 11 a.m to noon CST.

Learn more about soybean gall midge
    identification.
    scouting.
    biology and ecology.
    management.

Audience
Crop producers, crop consultants and scouts, and ag professionals are encouraged to attend.

Series details
    Registration is required but there is no fee to watch live or on-demand sessions.
    Watch live from anywhere with an internet connection. No special software required to watch the sessions and view from any browser.
    CCA credits are available in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota (1 credit per session).

January 5: Soybean gall midge identification, distribution and look-alikes
Is it soybean gall midge or not? There are several look-alikes that make identification of this insect challenging. Learn how to identify soybean gall midge -or how not to misidentify this insect - and see its distribution in our Midwest region.

January 12: Soybean gall midge ecology and plant injury
Learn more about this insect's life cycle, the plant damage it causes, and other soybean gall midge hosts.

January 19: Soybean gall midge management: What we know and the challenges we face
How do cultural practices, such as tillage and planting date, affect soybean gall midge? Is host plant resistance available? What about seed treatments, in-furrow, or foliar insecticide applications? Learn more about the potential to manage soybean gall midge through these cultural and chemical management practices.  

Click Here to Register: https://z.umn.edu/SoybeanGallMidge2021.  The link can also be found on the soybeangallmidge.org website.  Questions: Contact Justin McMechan at justin.mcmechan@unl.edu



January 2021 Beefwatch Webinar Series Registration Now Open

The BeefWatch Webinar series is designed to highlight management strategies in grazing, nutrition, reproduction, and economics to increase cow/calf and stocker production efficiency and profitability. Each session will feature industry experts and plenty of opportunity to interact to get your questions answered. More information about the BeefWatch Webinar Series can be found on our webpage: https://beef.unl.edu/beefwatch-webinar-series.

Each webinar will begin at 8:00 PM Central Time. Dates are January 5, 12, 19 and 26.

The focus for this month’s webinar series is “Preparing and Managing for the Calving Season” with the following speakers and topics:

January 5, Preventing Calf Scours
■       Dr. Halden Clark, Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center
■       Is there a way to reduce the likelihood of calf scours without adding additional vaccines or other cash expenses to your current program?  Could it be as simple as a few carefully planned pen or pasture moves?  

January 12, Calving Tool Box and Record Keeping
■       Drs. Lindsay Waechter-Mead & Erin Jobman, Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center
■       Don’t be caught unprepared! Lindsay will discuss her favorite tools to have ready for calving season and tricks to help make it a smooth season. Erin will discuss how to derive valuable knowledge from your calving records.  

January 19, Calving Complications and when to call the vet
■       Dr. Becky Funk, Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center
■       How long should you wait before you need to involve the vet? Becky will discuss how to manage calving difficulties and when you should consider calling the vet to help with complications. '

January 26, Cow Nutrition Needs at Calving and in Early Lactation
■       Troy Walz, West Central Research and Extension Center
■       Are your cows ready to meet the demands of calving and early lactation? Troy will discuss the importance of proper nutrition for the cow during late gestation and early lactation and also its importance to calf health and performance.

There is no cost to participate in this webinar series.



Cornstalk Residue Grazing with Weaned Calves, Dry Pregnant Cows or Pairs – What Supplementation Do They Need?
Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist
Kacie McCarthy, UNL Cow-Calf Specialist
Karla H. Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management

With approximately 9.8 million acres of corn yielding an average of 182 bushels/acre, cornstalk residue can be an accessible and economical winter grazing forage option for producers in Nebraska. Historic research at the University of Nebraska has suggested cattle select mostly dropped corn, husks, and leaves. The total digestible nutrients (TDN) of the selected diet can be variable, but tends to range from 50-60% TDN. Variability can be attributed to many factors including stocking density, harvest methods and conditions, weather, and grazing duration.  Additionally, producers must remember the highest forage quality in a residue field is available at the onset of grazing. As the more desirable plant parts are selected, the quality of the remaining residue decreases. Therefore, questions often arise about proper supplementation for cattle grazing residue fields.

Weaned Growing Calves
While maximizing gain is typically not the goal for producers grazing weaned calves on cornstalks, supplementation is still necessary to achieve the desired gain for the winter. Growing calves not receiving supplement will lose weight.  If a producer wants 600-pound calves to gain 1.5 pounds/day, the calves will need 9.2 pounds of TDN and 1.53 pounds of crude protein (CP). Grazing cornstalk residue alone, the calves would likely only consume 6.8 pounds of TDN and 0.66 pounds of CP, falling very short of the desired outcome. Research at the University of Nebraska has shown calves grazing cornstalks and supplemented with 4 pounds of dried distillers grains (as is basis) per day will gain 1.5 pounds per day. Have a different target rate of gain in mind? Then check out the table in Low Cost Option for Growing Calves: Corn Residue Grazing with Distiller Supplementation

Dry Pregnant Cows
Fortunately, the dry pregnant cow in only the second trimester of pregnancy has a rather low nutrient requirement if she is in moderate to good body condition (5-6 on a 1-9 scale). A mature cow in moderate condition could maintain her weight consuming approximately 26 lb of residue (DM basis). A five-year study at the University of Nebraska found that mature cows supplemented 2.2 pounds per day of dried distillers grains (DM basis) experienced an increase in body condition (5.4 to 5.6) while non-supplemented cows maintained a BCS of 5.4 from October to February. No difference was detected in calf birth weight or subsequent pregnancy rate. While weather conditions, residue availability, and previous BCS of the cows all play a role in the need for supplementation, producers should be aware that little to no protein or energy supplementation may be needed for the mature pregnant beef cow until very late gestation. However, a free choice mineral to provide supplemental phosphorus, copper, zinc and vitamin A would be needed.  For a free choice mineral, with a target intake of 4 oz per day, suggested concentrations would be 4 to 5% phosphorus, 1500 to 2500 ppm copper, 3000 to 5000 ppm zinc and 140,000 IU/lb of vitamin A.

Lactating Cows and Nursing Calves
Lactation increases the energy requirements of the cow substantially. If a lactating 1350 pound cow could eat 30 pounds (DM basis) of residue it would only supply about 13-15 pounds of TDN which is short of the energy needs of lactation. An energy supplement is needed, not just a protein supplement at this point. For example, consuming 1 pound (as is basis) of a lick tub, would not supply 1 pound of TDN and the cow would need 3-5 pounds of supplemental TDN to meet her needs just for maintenance, without consideration for mud and weather conditions.

The nursing calf also needs supplemental nutrition in addition to milk while grazing cornstalks. Calves will graze the stalks and likely manage to consume some of the supplement given to the cows.

Summer calving cows
A University of Nebraska study (Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance) indicated supplementing summer born (July/August) pairs after breeding on cornstalks with 5.5 pounds of dried distillers (DM basis) resulted nursing calves gaining 1.43 pounds per day from December to March, while confined nursing calves gained 2.1 pounds per day. However, because the cornstalk residue was an economical forage resource, the net income was more for the lighter residue grazing calves compared with the confined calves. Producers who desire more gain during residue grazing might consider a method of creep feeding or creep grazing.

Fall calving cows
Producers will want to pay special attention to the fall calving cow grazing cornstalk residue during peak lactation, just prior to breeding. This is a time when her nutrient needs are the highest and need to be met to provide the best chances for rebreeding. Supplementing 8 pounds as is of dried distillers per pair would provide enough energy to meet the demands of the cow as well as provide some supplement for the calf.

Producers often ask about supplementing alfalfa on cornstalks, but for the lactating cow in peak lactation, the energy in alfalfa is simply not enough to meet their needs. Producers who would like assistance in developing a supplemental ration for lactating cows on cornstalks are encouraged to contact their local university extension beef personnel for assistance.

Cornstalk residue is an economical forage resource across Nebraska, which can help producers reduce annual cow costs. Supplementation strategies can be cost effective when producers understand the nutrient needs of the cattle grazing residues and design supplementation programs accordingly.  



A gift suggestion for anyone with an agriculture connection

Northeast Community College has a holiday gift suggestion for anyone with a connection to agriculture – whether current or several generations ago. An animal silhouette for the farmscape wall in the College’s new agriculture facilities is one way to recognize that connection to the largest industry in Nebraska and support the future of ag.

“Purchasing an animal in the name of parents or grandparents is a great way to give a gift this holiday season,” said Dr. Tracy Kruse, Northeast associate vice president of development and external affairs and executive director of the Northeast Foundation. “They often tell us they don’t want anything more to hang on the wall or dust. However, making a donation to the Nexus campaign in their name is a way to honor that request and have their name included in buildings that will serve future generations of agriculture students.”

Construction is underway on new facilities at the Acklie Family College Farm at Northeast. Included in the initial Nexus project are a veterinary technology clinic and classroom building, a combined farm operations building and large animal handling facility, a feedlot and lagoon to feed out the College’s 50-head cow-calf herd, a shelter for sheep and hogs, and a feed and commodity storage facility. The new facilities are located near the Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex, 2301 E. Benjamin Ave., in Norfolk. Construction should be completed by fall 2021.

More than $20 million has been secured toward the $22.3 million improvement to the agriculture facilities. Continued fundraising for the Nexus campaign is needed to fully fund equipment, technology and furnishings in the new facilities.

To provide recognition for gifts of $50 or more, a farmscape wall has been designed and will be located in the new veterinary technology building. Small, medium and large animal silhouettes to fill the farmscape are on sale for donations of $50, $100 or $250 respectively. Donors may choose a chicken, pig, cow, or horse for their donation, and each silhouette will be engraved with a designated name, up to 20 characters.

“If a family would like to purchase multiple animals and have them grouped together on the farmscape, we can arrange that,” Kruse said. “And having an animal engraved in memory of a deceased family member is a way to introduce your family history to the next generation of farmers and ranchers.”

Animal silhouettes may be ordered online at agwaternexus.com or by texting “animal” to (402) 383-FARM (3276). For information on multiple purchases or family groupings, call (402) 844-7240. Space on the farmscape is limited, so those wishing to be recognized in this way are urged to order their animals as soon as possible.

For more information on the Nexus Campaign, contact Kruse, at tracyk@northeast.edu, or call (402) 844-7056. Online donations may be made through agwaternexus.com. Checks may also be mailed to Nexus Campaign, Northeast Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 469, Norfolk, NE 68702-0469.



Healthy Soils Task Force to Meet Wednesday

Keith Berns, chair, has scheduled a Zoom meeting of the Healthy Soils Task Force (HSTF) for Dec. 9. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. CST.

To attend the Zoom meeting or attend by phone contact HSTF Chairman Keith Berns at keith@greencoverseed.com.

For an agenda, call the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at (402) 471-2341 or visit https://nda.nebraska.gov/healthysoils/index.html.



Farm Bureau Asks Congress to Act Quickly on PPP Fix

The American Farm Bureau Federation is asking Congress to tweak the Paycheck Protection Program to ensure farmers and ranchers don’t have to pay taxes on their forgiven PPP loans.

“The PPP is providing vital working capital to farmers and ranchers who are struggling to remain operational due to the impacts of the global pandemic. The resources provided by the program are helping to maintain viability of American agricultural production by providing farmers and ranchers funds to assist in paying wages, rent, mortgage interest and utilities,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall noted in a letter to Congress.

Unfortunately, IRS rules threaten to deny farmers and ranchers a portion of this much-needed financial assistance by declaring that normal and customary business expenses incurred while operating with forgiven PPP loan funds – like payroll, rent, mortgage interest and utility expenses – are not tax deductible. These rules are at odds with congressional intent that any forgiven PPP loan amount “shall be excluded from gross income,” Duvall pointed out in his letter.

Two Farm Bureau-backed bills would make this fix by clarifying that payroll, rent, mortgage interest and utilities paid for with forgiven PPP loan funds are deductible business expenses: The Small Business Expense Protection Act (S. 3612) and the Small Business Expense Protection Act of 2020 (H.R. 6821).

With the clock winding down on 2020, Duvall asked lawmakers to act before they adjourn for the year “to ensure the PPP functions as Congress intended and so that farmers and ranchers are not hit with an unexpected tax bill at time when they continue to struggle with pandemic-induced economic stress.”



USGC 2020/2021 Corn Harvest Quality Report
Higher Average Test Weight, Lower Moisture And Damage

The 2020/2021 U.S. corn crop - entering marketing channels now - has a higher average test weight, lower moisture and lower total damage relative to each quality factor’s average of the previous five crops, according to the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) 2020/2021 Corn Harvest Quality Report.

The report is the 10th annual such examination of the U.S. corn crop and was published globally on Monday.

While wet weather conditions in April and May contributed to historic delays in planting and crop maturity in 2019, the 2020 crop was planted slightly ahead of the average pace of the previous five crops and experienced generally favorable conditions during the remainder of the growing season, resulting in both high grain quality and yield.

The average aggregate quality of the representative samples tested was better than the grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade. The report also showed that 84.7 percent of the samples met the grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade and 94.5 percent met the grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 2.

“Through trade, the Council is committed to the furtherance of global food security and mutual economic benefit. We offer this report to assist buyers in making well-informed decisions by providing reliable and timely information about the quality of the current U.S. crop,” said USGC Chairman Jim Raben, a farmer from Illinois. “This year’s ample supply allows the United States to remain the world’s leading corn exporter and accounts for an estimated 36.4 percent of global corn exports during the marketing year.”

The report is based on 601 yellow corn samples taken from defined areas within 12 of the top corn-producing and exporting states. Inbound samples were collected from local grain elevators to measure and analyze quality at the point of origin and provide representative information about the variability of quality characteristics across diverse geographic regions.

This year’s crop showed higher test weight than the 2019 and five-year average results; lower average broken corn and foreign material (BCFM) than in 2019; lower average total damage than 2019 and the five-year average; and lower average moisture content than 2019 or the five-year average. The crop also showed higher-than-average protein concentration than 2019 and the five-year average; lower average stress cracks than 2019; and lower average 100-kernel weight than 2019 or the five-year average.

More than 99 percent of the samples tested below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) action level for aflatoxins. A full 100 percent of the samples tested below the 5.0 parts per million FDA advisory level for deoxynivalenol (DON) or vomitoxin. Of the samples tested for fumonisin, 98.9 percent tested below the FDA’s strictest guidance level of 5.0 parts per million.

The 2020/2021 U.S. corn crop is expected to be the third largest (368.49 million metric tons/14,507 million bushels) and has the third highest average yield on record (11.04 metric tons/hectare or 175.8 bushels per acre), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate.

The 2020/2021 Corn Harvest Quality Report provides information about the quality of the current U.S. crop at harvest as it enters international merchandising channels. A second Council report, the 2020/2021 Corn Export Cargo Quality Report, will measure corn quality at the point of loading for export. It will be available in early 2021.

The Council will virtually present the new report's findings to buyers around the world in roll-out events starting on Dec. 11 in Southeast Asia. Presentations will continue through the first quarter of 2020, aiming to offer participants clear expectations regarding the quality of corn for this marketing year. During these events, crop quality information is accompanied by presentations on U.S. corn grading and handling, which helps provide a better understanding of how U.S. corn is moved and controlled through export channels.

Additional roll-out events are scheduled in January in Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Northeast Asia and Mexico.



Strong October for Pork and Beef Muscle Cut Exports; Variety Meat Trends Lower

U.S. pork exports posted broad-based gains in October, solidifying 2020's record pace, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef muscle cut exports were also higher than a year ago in October, though lower variety meat volumes pushed total beef exports slightly below last year.

October pork exports were up 8% year-over-year to 242,536 metric tons (mt), with value also increasing 8% to $641.1 million. Exports to Mexico, Japan, China/Hong Kong, Canada and the Philippines were substantially higher than a year ago while shipments to Central and South America were the largest since March. Through the first 10 months of the year, pork exports were 15% ahead of last year's record pace at 2.46 million mt, with value up 16% to $6.33 billion. With Mexico as the top volume destination, October muscle cut exports posted double digits gains at 201,723 mt (up 11%), with value up 10% to $551.8 million. This pushed January-October totals for pork muscle cuts to 2.07 million mt (up 20%) valued at $5.49 billion (up 18%).

October beef exports were slightly lower than a year ago at 107,591 mt (down 0.4%), valued at $646 million (down 0.5%), but exports to China set another new record and volumes were above year-ago levels to Japan, Taiwan, Central America and Africa. While still below last year, beef exports to Mexico were the largest since March. For January through October, beef exports trailed last year's pace by 7% in volume (1.02 million mt) and 8% in value ($6.2 billion). Beef muscle cut exports trended higher than a year ago in October, increasing 5% to 85,445 mt valued at $573.8 million (up 1%). January-October muscle cut exports were 5% below last year in volume (791,694 mt) and 8% lower in value ($5.48 billion).

"While the tight labor situation continues to limit the cut and variety meat specifications available for export, red meat demand is strengthening in many critical markets," said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "October exports of bone-in hams, for example, were near the July record and up 50% from a year ago. This has been a volatile year, filled with shifts in consumer preferences and a lot of uncertainty for international buyers. But the U.S. industry has responded positively to these challenges and the demand dynamics for red meat are quite strong as we approach year's end. When the gains made at retail over the past several months are combined with a stronger foodservice recovery, the prospects for export growth are very promising."

October exports of U.S. lamb were below last year but muscle cut exports trended sharply higher, mainly on strong growth to Mexico. Through October, lamb exports increased 31% from a year ago to 17,355 mt, but value was down 5% to $20.5 million. Lamb muscle cut volume was substantially higher at 8,203 mt (up 355%) with a more modest increase in export value ($12.4 million, up 7%).



Report: E15 Poised to Fast-Track Climate Progress    

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest association of biofuel producers and supporters, released a new report examining the potential climate benefits of a nationwide transition from the standard ten-percent ethanol blended fuel (E10) to a 15-percent ethanol blend (E15). The report was authored by Air Improvement Resource, Inc. (AIR), a leading research firm in the area of mobile source emissions modeling and technology, at the request of Growth Energy.  

“Based on our analysis, we estimate that if the United States transitioned from E10 to E15 in the nation for 2001 and later model year vehicles, GHG emissions would be lower by 17.62 million tons per year, which is the equivalent of removing approximately 3.85 million vehicles from the road,” wrote the study’s authors, who utilized data collected from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Argonne National Lab’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) Model.

Marketed to consumers as Unleaded 88, E15 is approved by the EPA for all light-duty vehicles model year 2001 and later, which is 95 percent of the vehicle fleet on the road today. Currently, 98 percent of all gasoline contains about 10 percent ethanol, but more than 2,200 retail locations are now offering E15, and in 2020 – despite COVID-19 – retail sites offering E15 have increased 10 percent. According to AIR, the higher ethanol blend would not only help achieve the nation’s climate goals, but also offers individual states the opportunity to lead, cutting carbon dioxide emissions annually by 1,882,100 tons in California alone.

“The evidence is clear that higher biofuel blends will play a vital role in America’s clean energy future,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “The incoming administration, along with climate leaders in the House and Senate, have all recognized the importance of low-carbon biofuels as part of any successful effort to combat climate change. This new report underscores how E15 can turbo-charge our climate progress, while supporting job growth in rural communities and offering consumers a cleaner, more affordable choice for vehicles on the road today.”



NAMI, NCBA, NPPC:  After Healthcare Workers, Essential Meat and Poultry Workers High Priority for COVID Vaccine

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) urged the nation’s governors to highly prioritize COVID-19 vaccination for the men and women who work in the meat and poultry industry, following healthcare workers and those in long-term care facilities.

The groups sent the following letter to each governor:
"For the reasons discussed below the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, and the North American Meat Institute (the organizations) respectfully request that workers in the meat and poultry industry, including United States Department of Agriculture meat and poultry inspectors, and livestock producers be given very high priority regarding the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

"Earlier this year the Department of Homeland Security identified food manufacturing as a critical infrastructure sector, which included meat and poultry workers and livestock producers. Those people have been on the front lines ensuring Americans have access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.

"The challenges packing plants and their producer suppliers in particular faced in the early stages of the pandemic were unprecedented and yet were endured.  The meat industry is resilient and the supply chain remains intact.

"Critical components of that resilience are the programs and protocols packers implemented in the spring and summer, programs that have proven effective in limiting the spread of the virus even while the curve nationally has been soaring in the opposite direction.  Those programs and protocols, coupled with the education programs packers will undertake to explain the importance and safety of vaccination, put meatpacking facilities in an ideal position to administer the vaccine to many people in an orderly and efficient fashion.

"The undersigned organizations acknowledge and support the Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recent recommendation administering the vaccine first to health care workers and certain other high-risk individuals.  But prioritizing thereafter meat industry workers and their livestock suppliers addresses an industry that is part of the critical infrastructure and necessary to ensure the animals are harvested and processed.  Such prioritization would allow the utilization of an existing system to deliver the vaccine to a significant and important part of the workforce.

"The Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, got it right when it concluded that people in the population group that includes meat and poultry workers “need to be provided the vaccine, and special efforts must be made to reach these workers in ways that encourage them to be vaccinated.”

"The systems are in place.  The workers are part of the critical infrastructure and the State of _____ depends on these people to supply and process livestock so agricultural communities can thrive.  For these reasons we respectfully request that, as you plan for the distribution of the vaccine, meatpacking workers, USDA inspectors, and livestock producers be given high priority to receive vaccinations."  

Since the spring, meat and poultry companies have implemented health recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and, often, additional measures. The industry has spent more than $1 billion on procedures and controls to both support and protect employees. These measures include physical adaptations to facilities, personal protective equipment, enhanced sanitation, advanced ventilation systems, extensive testing and contact tracing, enhanced health care services, and more.

Last week, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the initial phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program (Phase 1a) should be offered to health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities.

KatieRose McCullough, Ph.D. MPH, Director, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs for the Meat Institute submitted written comments urging ACIP to prioritize vaccination for meat and poultry workers during the next phase (Phase 1b).



Ranch Group Files Brief to Prevent USDA from Preempting False Advertising Claims for Beef

Today, R-CALF USA submitted a motion to file a friend-of-the-court brief and a brief to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in an effort to prevent the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) from being interpreted to govern both beef labeling and beef advertising, which the ranch group says would severely limit state’s rights.  

According to the ranch group, the FMIA governs beef labeling, not beef advertising. “Our goal is to prevent the court from inadvertently expanding the scope of the FMIA to include advertising, which would render any future claims against the false advertisement of domestic or imported beef all but impossible,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

Bullard said the risk of expanding the scope of the FMIA to include advertising claims arose in lawsuits filed earlier this year by New Mexico rancher Michael Lucero and New Mexico consumer Robin Thornton, who each alleged the Big 4 beef packers had violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act by mislabeling beef as a product of the USA when the beef was actually derived from imported cattle.

A federal district court in New Mexico recently dismissed the two lawsuits on grounds that the FMIA administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) preempts any state law that attempts to require labels or advertisements that are different than the labels approved by the USDA.

The court noted that the USDA regulations allow the use of a “Product of USA” label on beef even if the beef is derived from imported cattle. The court determined that because the packers were labeling and advertising beef according to the USDA’s labeling standard, and because federal law preempts states from both labeling or advertising beef in a different manner, the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act did not apply.

On December 1, Lucero and Thornton appealed the dismissal of their cases to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

When R-CALF USA reviewed the dismissal order, it realized something was amiss in the legal interpretation of the FMIA. Although the court ruled that state laws for both the labeling and advertising of beef were preempted by the FMIA, the FMIA does not speak to advertising.

R-CALF USA’s brief focuses on this specific issue and urges the appellate court to reverse the lower court’s inclusion of false or misleading advertisements as falling within the scope of the FMIA.

National legal advocacy organization Public Justice joined R-CALF USA on the brief out of similar concerns. David Muraskin, Litigation Director for Public Justice’s Food Project explained, “a ruling that advertising claims are preempted by the FMIA would take away an important tool consumers use to ensure corporate meat producers do not mislead the public about their products.”

In 2017 R-CALF USA filed a somewhat similar case but alleged instead that USDA violated the FMIA by allowing beef from cattle slaughtered in a foreign country to be labeled as a product of the USA. While the court found that U.S. cattle producers were harmed by the repeal of the mandatory country of origin labeling law (mCOOL), which triggered the agency’s reimplementation of the challenged labeling standard, it disagreed that USDA was operating outside the scope of the FMIA. The court concluded that because the USDA labeling regulations followed Congress’ clear intent, it is Congress and not the court that possesses the authority to change USDA’s labeling scheme.  

“This ruling prompted us to draft proposed legislation for a new mandatory COOL law for beef, which we have distributed to several members of Congress in both the House and Senate,” said Bullard adding, “What we don’t want is for the court to establish a legal precedent that would bar us from enforcing false beef advertisements on into the future.”



NMPF Urges USDA to Extend DMC Signup Deadline

The National Milk Producers Federation urged USDA to extend signup for the 2021 Dairy Margin Coverage to Jan. 30, 2021, allowing dairy farmers to make better-informed choices while giving both milk producers and USDA staff strained by coronavirus-related challenges additional time to communicate. The current signup deadline of Friday, Dec. 11 remains in place while USDA considers NMPF’s request.

“Extending the DMC deadline to the end of next month will allow farmers to better focus on the turbulent marketing environment we now expect to see in 2021, once we are through the upcoming holiday season,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, in the letter. “An extension would allow more time for interaction between USDA staff and farmers – both of whom are working through the challenges of this very difficult year.” USDA last week announced a similar one-month deadline extension to assist fisherman applying for its seafood trade relief program.

The DMC, the main federal risk-protection tool for dairy farmers, is projected to provide support to producers enrolled at the maximum $9.50/cwt. coverage level through at least the first half of 2021, as volatile market conditions are expected to persist well into next year. NMPF is urging dairy farmers to sign up for the program, given the high likelihood that payments will far exceed premiums next year.

NMPF has produced an easy-to-digest brochure highlighting the benefits of DMC coverage and an explanation of how the program works. Dairy producers can also visit NMPF’s page on risk management to learn more about DMC and other tools to promote financial security for dairy operations.



Beef Production Almost Equal to Last Year
David P. Anderson, Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

After all 2020’s curve balls, here we are with 4 weeks left in the year and total beef production is almost the same amount as last year at this time. Through the week ending December 5th, 25.08 billion pounds of beef have been produced compared to 25.2 billion pounds last year. That difference will likely be made up in the next 4 weeks and if so it will likely set a new record for beef production, at about 27.2 billion pounds.

Steer and heifer slaughter is a little over 3 percent behind 2019 at this point. Total cow slaughter is 1.5 percent below 2019, but the source of the cows is interesting. Beef cow slaughter is up 2.5 percent while dairy cow slaughter is down 5.5 percent from a year ago. Low calf prices and drought conditions are acting to increase cow slaughter while higher milk prices have reduced dairy cow culling.

As has been the story all year, fed steer and heifer weights continue to make up the difference to increase beef production. Steer dressed weights have averaged 906 pounds this year compared to 876 pounds last year. Heifer weights have averaged 833 pounds this year, up 22 pounds from 2019. Cow and bull dressed weights are within a pound of last year’s average.

More cattle continue to grade Prime and Choice compared to last year. For the last 7 weeks, more than 10 percent of the cattle graded were Prime. Over the same period, more than 71 percent of carcasses were graded Choice. Combined with beef production, that means there is more Prime and Choice beef on the market than at this time last year.

One of the interesting seasonal meat prices is the wholesale price of ribeyes leading into the holidays. Ribeye prices tend to increase, seasonally, at the end of the year. Over the last month wholesale ribeye prices have increased from $9.23 per pound to $12.56 per pound. That is the highest price this year, even including the pandemic price rollercoaster back in the Spring when ribeyes peaked at $11.62 per pound. It may be more consumers are going to try to celebrate with something special if they can. We have already purchased our standing rib roast for Christmas Eve dinner! (Christmas Day will be BBQ!)



Saltro fungicide seed treatment from Syngenta proves strong first year impact

In September 2019, Syngenta announced registration of the seed treatment Saltro® fungicide. Now that Saltro has completed its first growing season of commercial use, growers have experienced firsthand the benefits of superior protection against Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and nematodes, and they like what they see.

Formulated to deliver superior protection against SDS and nematodes without causing plant stress, Saltro contains Adepidyn® Technology, an extremely powerful SDHI mode of action, which outperforms older fungicide chemistries and provides higher potential yield. This protection allows plants to reach their full genetic yield potential.

Eric Scheller, a grower in Evansville, Indiana, split a field between Saltro and ILEVO® in 2020 and said the difference was visible even from the highway.

“The beans treated with Saltro were coming out of the ground a lot more uniform. They were a stage ahead of the ILEVO-treated beans that we had next to them,” said Scheller. “All year, they looked better — a deeper, darker color and overall stand time to canopy. And then in the fall, we saw a noticeable yield advantage — 5 to 10 bushels better. We've seen a lot of positives in plant stand and uniformity, and that is where we got yield, for sure. I think Saltro is the next step in technology that we need to move forward.”

Saltro also delivers robust activity across a broad spectrum of nematode species, including Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) — the No. 1 yield-robbing pest in soybeans and a major contributor to SDS infection.

Severe SDS infection can cause up to 50% yield loss1, and SCN has cost about $1.5 billion in U.S. yield loss2. Although soybeans can outgrow the side effects from early-season aboveground stress, they may not fully recover from the lower yield potential caused by belowground stress affecting the roots. Since Saltro provides protection against both, it complements SDS- and SCN-resistant varieties to help soybeans maximize their yield potential.

“SDS is an early-season disease that doesn’t show up until after the plant’s infected, and you have virtually no options to combat the diseases after infection,” said Jeremy Patterson, a grower in Osage, Iowa. Patterson grows soybeans for seed production and has new varieties on his farm every year. He keeps a close eye out for SDS and proactively uses fungicide seed treatments to try to limit potential yield loss from disease. This year, he saw up to a 2 bu/A yield increase with Saltro over ILEVO, even with low SDS pressure.

As a testament to its strong first year, Saltro earned an Agrow Award in the category, Best Crop Protection Product of 2020. Scored by a diverse 10-judge panel, these awards showcase leading advancements in agriculture and best-in-class scientific, technological and leadership initiatives.

“We are very proud to offer Saltro to growers and honored to be recognized by Agrow,” said Paul Oklesh, product lead for Syngenta Seedcare. “Saltro is an important addition to soybean planting because it provides SCN and SDS protection without making growers sacrifice early-season plant health. Now soybeans are getting not only a new standard of SDS protection, but also a strong start upon emergence, and both help drive higher potential yield.”

Saltro helps growers combat disease with less inputs and offset variable environmental conditions associated with the existential threat of climate change. Through the Syngenta Good Growth Plan, Syngenta continues to honor its commitments to secure the future of agriculture and our planet’s ecosystems.



FBN Launches Groundbreaking Independent Seed Breeder Network

Farmer’s Business Network, Inc. (FBN®), the leading direct-to-farm ag tech platform and farmer network, today announced the launch of the FBN Independent Breeder Network, which will give farmers more choice, competition and transparency in their seed options, and breeders an open source for collaboration and a clearer path to market.

This network, one of the first of its kind in the industry, aims to boost ROI for growers while providing breeders with a range of benefits that will support direct collaboration and open new channels for market access, powered by the FBN Network.

The FBN Independent Breeder Network will provide several advantages to breeders:
-    Channel to Market: FBN will test independent breeder germplasm and hybrids, and has the option to in-license and commercialize with royalties within a defined range to independent breeders
-    Access to Elite FBN Germplasm: F2F Genetics NetworkTM will make its proprietary germplasm available for network partners to use in their breeding programs, with both FBN and the network having rights to further commercialization
-    World-Class Breeding Technology Support: Independent Breeder Network members will have access to industry-leading data specialists and access to massive sets of data on molecular selection

"We believe this Independent Breeder Network has the power to transform an antiquated industry, one which leaves farmers dealing with only a few expensive options," said Daniel Dyer, Head of FBN Seed R&D. "We're looking forward to bringing the power of the FBN Network to independent breeders, provide them with germplasm resources, data and technical support from the FBN team, and with clear paths to commercialization."

This new approach to germplasm development is founded on an open-source philosophy, designed specifically to empower independent breeders while increasing farmer choice and flexibility in a seed market that's been long dominated by industry giants.

FBN executed a pilot program in the 2020 season to test germplasm and try out breeding combinations from initial network members.

"We've been very encouraged by the positive developments and see a range of future  opportunities as a result of this groundbreaking network," said Dyer. "We're looking forward to working with breeders -- small or large -- that want to bring transparency and competition to this vital market."

This step is just the latest move by FBN to put Farmers First®. In recent months the company announced two acquisitions to further its presence into Canola breeding and unveiled an on-farm R&D Network to further revenue streams for growers.