Tuesday December 8 Ag News

CBS NEWS: BIDEN TO NOMINATE VILSACK AS AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

President-Elect Joe Biden plans to nominate Tom Vilsack to serve as agriculture secretary, a person familiar with the decision tells CBS News.  This means if confirmed, the 69-year old Vilsack would return to a job he held for the entirety of President Obama's administration.

Vilsack was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate back in 2017 — and that mix of on-the-job experience and bipartisan support is exactly why the Biden team wants him back in the role.

A person familiar with the transition process, who asked for anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said Mr. Biden will argue that amid an unprecedented hunger crisis sparked by the coronavirus pandemic and a severe economic downturn for the nation's farmers, the department responsible for distributing tens of billions of dollars in federal food aid and overseeing farming policy quickly needs an experienced leader installed.

Vilsack is a former Iowa governor and once ran unsuccessfully for president himself. He supported Mr. Biden's presidential bid and continued campaigning for the former vice president even once it was apparent his former Obama-era colleague would lose the Iowa Caucus.



Alec Ibach Takes Home Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Discussion Meet Competition

Alec Ibach of Kearney is the winner of the 2020 Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Virtual Discussion Meet competition. The award was announced Dec. 8, during the Nebraska Farm Bureau’s 103rd Annual Convention held virtually on Dec. 8.

Ibach received the top score of the contestants who advanced to the final round of the Discussion Meet contest. Rather than debating, contestants work to develop a solution to a problem being discussed, building on each other’s contributions. Competitors in the annual contest must be prepared to speak on several current agricultural related topics; the selected question is announced a short time prior to the contest round.

Ibach is a Buffalo County Farm Bureau member and serves on the YF&R Committee. Alec is a fifth-generation farmer/rancher on his family’s farm near Sumner. He also owns his own agriculture input business selling seed corn, cover crops, and chemicals. His wife, Meredith, is a kindergarten teacher in Kearney.

Ibach competed with four other contestants, Lance Atwater, Karah Perdue, Tyler Ramsey, and Sean Krebs. Lance Atwater is an Adams County Farm Bureau member and farms near Ayr. He currently serves on the Nebraska Farm Bureau Board of Directors as the Youth At-Large representative. Karah Perdue is a member of York County Farm Bureau and serves as chairman along with her husband Jason on the YF&R Committee. Tyler Ramsey is a member of the Adams County Farm Bureau and represents the At-Large position on the YF&R Committee. Sean Krebs is an Antelope County Farm Bureau member and a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in Agriculture Engineering.

Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 can participate in the Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet competition. As a Nebraska winner, Ibach will receive $500 and the opportunity to compete in a virtual contest at the American Farm Bureau Virtual Annual Convention to be held January 10-13, 2021. For more information, visit www.nefb.org/yfr.



Farmers Tax Guide Now Available

Farmers can better understand their 2020 tax returns with help from a guide available through the IRS.  The 2020 Farmers Tax Guide has illustrated examples, a sample return and explains how the federal tax laws apply to farming.The tax guides are in and are free to local producers.  They can be picked up at the Cuming County Extension office, area tax preparers or any Cuming County bank.



Extension landlord-tenant cash rent workshops rescheduled as virtual meetings

Nebraska Extension will hold a series of virtual landlord-tenant cash rent workshops in lieu of in-person meetings that were scheduled across the state through February. They will be geared toward current and future landlords and tenants and will cover current trends in cash rental rates and land values, lease provisions, crop and grazing land considerations and current university crop budget information.

The workshops, titled Ag Land Leasing, Budgeting and Management for 2021, will be led by extension land specialists Allan Vyhnalek, Austin Duerfeldt, Glennis McClure and Jim Jansen, who conduct research and outreach in land management, crop budgets, farm and ranch succession, communication and negotiations. They will address common agricultural landlord and tenant topics, including equitable rental rates, managing and adjusting farmland leases, landlord-tenant communication, pasture leasing and other land management considerations.  

Three of the workshops will be intended for audiences in specific regions of the state. A virtual meeting that was previously slated to be held for landlords and tenants in Lancaster County will continue as scheduled.

Following the landlord-tenant workshop on each date, an agricultural budgeting workshop will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Information will be presented on using University of Nebraska-Lincoln crop budgets to calculate cost of production. The new online Agricultural Budget Calculator program will also be demonstrated. These workshops will be conducted on the same meeting link as the morning session.  

Paper copies of the program curriculum will be mailed to participants who provide their address during registration, which should be completed at least one week prior to the workshop to ensure receipt by the time of the workshop.

Workshop schedule:
    Lancaster County (previously scheduled) — Dec. 14: landlord-tenant cash rent workshop, 9-11:30 a.m. CST; crop budgeting workshop, 1:30-3 p.m. CST.  
    Panhandle Region — Jan. 7: landlord-tenant cash rent workshop, 9-11:30 a.m. MST; crop budgeting workshop, 1:30-3 p.m. MST.
    Central Region — Feb. 4: landlord-tenant cash rent workshop, 9-11:30 a.m. CST; crop budgeting workshop, 1:30-3 p.m. CST.
    Eastern Region — Feb. 25: landlord-tenant cash rent workshop, 9-11:30 a.m. CST; crop budgeting workshop, 1:30-3 p.m. CST.

The workshops are free to attend and will be held via Zoom (except for the Dec. 14 Lancaster County meeting, which will be streamed live on YouTube). Registration is required at farm.unl.edu/manage21, and participants will receive the Zoom link upon registering.



NeCGA Issues Call for At-Large Candidates
Dan Wesely, Chairman

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association is seeking candidates for two at-large positions to serve on the board of directors. The at-large positions serve for a 3-year term. If you have an interest in furthering your service to the corn industry and are a current member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, please contact me at (402) 480-3945.

As a candidate, your name will be placed on the ballot for delegates of the association to vote from during our upcoming Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 21, 2021 in York, Nebraska at the Holthus Convention Center. Candidates will have an opportunity to address the delegates with a short introduction of themselves and why they want to be active on the board of directors.

If elected to serve, the board of directors usually meet in person 2-3 times per year, with 2-3 conference call as needed to conduct and address business of the board.

If you have questions, or are interested in being a candidate, please call me by January 15, 2021. Again, my number is (402) 480-3945.



WINTER HAY ACCESS
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator
 
With Nebraska forecasts for the next few weeks looking to be dry, getting hay to animals in the field or pasture may not be a concern, but if conditions change to snow and mud, will current placement allow for easy access?
 
While only Mother Nature knows what lay in store for the winter months ahead, long periods of cold and snow turning into a wet and muddy spring are not out of the norm for Nebraska.  If this winter does take a turn for the worse, are you prepared?  The principles of bale storage are fairly straight forward and easy implement while dry weather holds.
 
First, mitigate the impact of moisture.  Move bales away from areas where snow will drift making access difficult.  Tree lines, low areas, and fence rows are all natural snow catches, and while convenient, are poor locations for winter bale storage.  Additionally, areas where snow collects often become muddy during the spring thaw.  While we may be able to plow through drifts and get access while the ground is frozen, bales stored across plowed fields or along minimum maintenance roads may be unusable later on due to mud.
 
The second concept to keep in mind is organization.  Hopefully by now, you have taken some forage tests and have a good idea of the nutrient value of the bales on hand.  Higher quality hay may be needed later during late gestation and peak lactation, while right now lower quality forage will suffice for spring-calving cows.  Plan accordingly.
 
Hay that might be higher in nitrates should be noted as well.  Feeding high nitrate hay during a storm when animals are hungry and no other feed is available is the story behind many winter cases of nitrate poisoning.  Know where these bales are feed them out in a manner and time will mitigate the nitrate risk.
 
Proper bale storage this winter can mean a better and easier feeding program if the need arises.  Avoid storing in areas that collect snow or might be muddy later on, organize hay by quality, and keep a special eye on those that may have nitrate issues.



Nebraska Ethanol Board to hold virtual board meeting on Dec. 22
 
Under guidance of Gov. Pete Ricketts’ Executive Order No. 20-36, which is effective Dec. 1, 2020, through Jan. 31, 2021, and allows public meetings to be conducted by video or teleconference, the Nebraska Ethanol Board will meet virtually at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22. To request the call-in information, please contact the Nebraska Ethanol Board office at 402-471-2941 or email the request to Jessica.Sodeke@nebraska.gov. Highlights of the agenda include:
    Budget Report
    Fuel Retailer Update
    E30 Demonstration Update
    Renewable Fuels Nebraska Update
    Nebraska Corn Board Update
    Lowering Ethanol's Carbon Intensity Study
    Economic Impact Study of Corn Basis
    Marketing Programs
    State and Federal Legislation
    Ethanol Plant Reports
    Election of Board Officers for 2021
 
This agenda contains all items to come before the Board except those items of an emergency nature.



Nebraska's potential to generate renewable solar energy to be discussed

An upcoming virtual meeting hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs will explore the growth of solar energy in Nebraska.

“Nebraskans are lucky to have access to great renewable energy potential,” said Lu Nelsen, policy associate at the Center. “Wind energy has already grown significantly in the state, and we’re starting to see solar grow to deliver many of the same benefits to communities across the state.”

The meeting, which is set for 6:30 p.m. CST, Dec. 17, will feature Martin Kleinschmit, owner of MarLin Wind and Solar; Cliff Mesner, owner of Mesner Development; and Brian Newton, city administrator of Fremont. Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about solar energy development at various levels, and ask presenters questions.

“As the solar industry continues to grow in Nebraska, we have an opportunity to take advantage of our potential at the individual-, community-, and utility-scale level,” Nelsen said. “The real challenge to capturing the benefits of solar energy in our state is connecting people to possibilities and smart policy to support development.”

Visit cfra.org/events to register for this online event.

For more information on the event or renewable development in Nebraska, contact Lu Nelsen, at 402.687.2100 ext. 1022 or lucasn@cfra.org.




Adair County farmer wins Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Discussion Meet

Beth Baudler of Fontanelle has been selected as the winner of Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) Young Farmer Discussion Meet, held virtually on Dec. 1. Baudler will represent Iowa in the Young Farmer and Rancher National Discussion Meet during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Annual Convention, also to be held virtually in January 2021.

Baudler helps on her family farm where they grow hay, oats, corn and soybeans, and manages her own cow-calf herd and sheep flock. She works off-farm as a cattle nutritionist and co-product specialist and instructs an animal breeding and genetics course at Southwestern Community College in Creston. She also is passionate about promoting agriculture through Ag 4 All, a collaboration of Adair County commodity groups and more than 150 local volunteers, who bring educational ag programs to local communities and highlight area farmers on the “Who’s Your Iowa Farmer?” Facebook page.

Second place winner for the Iowa competition was Shelby Smith, a cricket farmer out of Story County; in third, Krista Huntsman, a Montgomery County cattle farmer; and fourth, dairy farmer Megan Kregel of Clayton County.

The Young Farmer Discussion Meet is a unique competition in which participants, ages 18-35, are scored based on their ability to engage in a “cooperative” 30-minute discussion on challenges impacting agriculture and rural America. Contestants are awarded points based on their ability to seek solutions, listen to each other’s viewpoints and engage in cooperative dialogue.

Eight contestants secured their spot to participate in the semi-final rounds by competing at the IFBF Young Farmer Conference held this January. This year’s questions focused on international trade, rural broadband access, the risks and rewards of “big data”, sustainable farm practices to address climate and rural economic stability.

As the top Iowa finalist, Baudler received a one-year/100-hour lease on a Cat Skid Steer Loader ($10,000 value) and an expense paid trip to the 2021 GROWMARK annual meeting, pending conference planning. Smith received a $500 value Choice Hotels certificate, $500 Cat gift certificate and a $500 gift card to FAST STOP or local FS Cooperative from GROWMARK. Huntsman received a $500 Cat gift certificate, a YETI cooler from Farm Bureau Financial Services and six park passes with a cabana rental at Adventureland. Kregel received a $250 gift card to FAST STOP or their local FS Cooperative from GROWMARK, six park passes with a cabana rental at Adventureland and $100 from the IFBF Young Farmer Program.



Iowa Farm Bureau Begins Annual Meeting Webinars this Week

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) opened registration for the 2020 Annual Meeting Webinar Series which will provide a closer look at some of the lessons learned through COVID-19, from supply chain disruptions and the future of economics surrounding agriculture.

The webinars are being held in lieu of the annual meeting's traditional in-person breakout sessions and program based on COVID-19 proclamations by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. Instead, a virtual 2020 business session will be held on Dec. 18 with only county voting delegates invited to participate in person from designated locations in their region. The gathering originally scheduled for Dec. 8 and 9 in Des Moines has been canceled.

The 2020 Annual Meeting Webinar Series kicks off Dec.10 at 12 p.m. with 'Lessons Learned from Responding to Covid-19.' An expert panel featuring Reynolds Cramer, president of Fareway Meat & Grocery; Jessica Dunker, Iowa Restaurant Association's executive director; and Ron Prestage of Prestage Farms will share lessons they have learned from food supply chain disruptions and insight on industry changes amidst a global pandemic.

At 12: p.m. on Dec. 15, 'What's the Future of Agriculture?' featuring renowned futurist, Joe Kerns of Kerns and Associates, will analyze the variables and scenarios impacting agriculture moving forward, providing farmers with the need-to-know information to make best decisions for their farms as they look ahead.

The IFBF webinar series wraps up on Dec. 17, with the 12 p.m. session, 'Economics in Agriculture.' Jackson Takach, Farmer Mac chief economist and Dr. Sam Funk, IFBF senior economist, will dive into the issues shaping the global ag economy and key factors influencing farmers' bottom line during a time of economic uncertainty and tight margins.

"Our goal throughout the pandemic has been ensuring the safety of members while continuing to provide the robust information they've come to expect from us," says IFBF President Craig Hill. "Despite not being able to meet in-person in Des Moines, we are eager to share the expertise of a fantastic line-up of speakers through this special webinar series from the comfort and safety of their own homes. We also invite anyone interested in learning more about key issues impacting agriculture today to register for the webinars."

The special three-part 2020 Annual Meeting Webinar Series is free, however registration is required to participate. To register, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com/annualmeetingwebinarseries.

For more information about virtual annual meeting opportunities, please visit www.iowafarmbureau.com.



198 Grants Awarded to Schools, Local Farmers to Help Serve More Iowa-Grown Produce, Protein to Students

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced the recipients of the CARES Act Local Produce and Protein Program grants today. The program helps schools, colleges and universities, and early child care centers purchase more locally-grown fruits, vegetables and proteins for student meal programs. The grant program, which benefits both farmers impacted by COVID-19 supply chain disruptions and Iowa students, was funded by $750,000 of CARES Act money allocated by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the critical role Iowa farmers play in the local food chain and beyond, as well as the important role of schools in providing nutritious meals to our students,” said Secretary Naig. “The Iowa Department of Agriculture will continue to support local producers and schools as they navigate the ongoing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The funding was divided into three sub-grants to support Iowa’s Farm to School programs, which makes fresh food more accessible to students. Thirty-six K-12 schools were awarded grants to purchase kitchen equipment and supplies that allow the food service program to serve more fresh produce and protein to students. More than 100 K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and early care centers were awarded grants to buy produce, protein, liquid and shelled eggs, and dairy products directly from local producers, food hubs or food auctions.

Iowa’s specialty crop producers and food hubs were also eligible for a portion of the Local Produce and Protein Program funding. Fifty-four producers and distributors were awarded grants to purchase supplies and equipment needed to serve their protein and produce in schools, colleges and universities, and early care centers. Eligible purchases included refrigerated trucks, cold storage units, and boxes and packaging equipment.

A comprehensive list of Local Produce and Protein Program grant recipients is available at iowaagriculture.gov/grants.



Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor to Deliver Industry Keynote at the 2021 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

When it comes to lowering emissions and improving air quality, reinvigorating rural economies, and reducing consumer costs, U.S. biofuels are ready to be the answer Americans are looking for. During her keynote address at the 2021 Virtual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor will dive into how biofuels can lead the way to achieving these goals.

“America’s biofuel industry stands ready to power a rural revival that will surpass all expectations and open a new chapter in clean energy,” Skor said. “The challenges ahead are great, but we are fired up and ready to work side-by-side with our long-time biofuels champions and newly elected leaders to drive growth at home and abroad. I look forward to joining producers and industry partners across Iowa to discuss how we can strengthen federal policy, accelerate innovation, and expand consumer access to clean, low-carbon ethanol.”

The 2021 Virtual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit is taking place on January 26, 2021 and will be livestreamed on IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org. The Summit is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

“Growth Energy has been at the tip of the spear when it comes to growing the market for Unleaded88,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw. “We look forward to hearing Emily lay out a path forward to grow the market for higher biofuel blends and expanding opportunities for producers.”

Growth Energy represents producers and supporters of ethanol working to bring consumers better choices at the fuel pump, grow America's economy and improve the environment for future generations.

To register and learn more about the Summit, please visit IowaRenewablFuelsSummit.org.



National Pork Board Study Outlines Opportunities to Diversify Pork Exports

As U.S. pork exports continue to break records in 2020, new reports from the National Pork Board demonstrate opportunities that may diversify U.S. pork exports in Vietnam and the Philippines. The reports also show how African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in Asia have impacted both countries’ pork industries and related supply chains.
 
The two new pork market assessments were prepared by Gira, a global research firm, with funding from the Pork Checkoff and the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Emerging Markets Program. They share critical insights on how U.S. pork can position itself for long-term success in the Vietnamese and Philippine markets – two Asian markets with increased demand for pork consumption anticipated in the next decade.
 
“The annual Pork Checkoff producer survey identified diversification of U.S. pork exports as a top priority,” said Norman Bessac, vice president of international marketing for the Checkoff. “These reports will help exporters position the U.S. pork industry as a supplier of choice in both countries, helping to expand our export options and create even greater value for the more than 60,000 pig farmers here.”
 
According to Gira’s research, as Vietnam and the Philippines recover from COVID-19 and ASF outbreaks, pork consumption and import demand will increase. This projected increase is counter to other key markets, where pork consumption is expected to shrink by 2030. The predicted growth in these two markets is based on the rise in the middle classes and pork’s popularity in Vietnamese and Filipino cuisines.

 Facts about Vietnam:
    Pork is the most common protein in Vietnamese cuisine, and as a result, total pork consumption in the country has more than tripled, from 31 pounds to 72 pounds*, since 2000.
    The country’s population will soon reach 100 million, boasting one of the fastest-growing economies in the world – even faster than China.
    The Vietnamese population is quickly becoming urban, as new jobs are drawing rural residents into cities with higher wages, which will increase demand for pork.
    In Vietnam, complete recovery to pre-ASF production levels will not be achieved until after 2025, creating an opportunity for imports to help meet demand.
Source: Vietnam Market Assessment: 10 Year Foresight Analysis of Pork and Processed Pork Product Consumption prepared by Gira.

Facts about the Philippines:
    Pork is prized in the Filipino culture – both for special occasions and as an everyday staple – with consumption at 40 pounds* per capita.
    Rising demand for pork, fueled by an expanding population and increasing disposable incomes are significant drivers for the future.
    By 2028, a majority of Filipino residents will be urban. This change will help drive growth for imported pork as urban consumers have higher incomes, consume more meat and are exposed to modern retail.
    The Filipino pork sector will not fully recover from the ASF outbreak until after 2030, requiring a reliable source of imports to meet domestic demand.
Source: Philippines Market Assessment: 10 Year Foresight Analysis of Pork and Processed Pork Product Consumption prepared by Gira“

“These reports show how the Checkoff is committed to listening to producer feedback, collecting market insights and implementing programs with the goal of adding value for U.S. pork producers through exports,” said Curtis Meier, a pork producer from Iowa. “Exports are one of the greatest opportunities for our industry’s future success, but it’s also our greatest risk if we rely too heavily on a few international markets.”
 
According to the  U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), exports accounted for nearly 30% of U.S. pork production from January to September, with over 20% of production exported to just three markets – China, Mexico and Japan.
 
“This market research and future studies will provide information that may help develop new markets and create stable opportunities to generate value for our product internationally,” said Meier.
 
These two new reports build on the success of the Pork 2040: China Market Assessment, released in 2019. The China Market Assessment identified ongoing volatility and short-term opportunities in the world’s largest pork market. Intelligence gleaned from these market assessments will help inform key decision-makers as they work to define and develop marketing strategies for U.S. pork in these markets.
 
The Pork Board has created free marketing toolkits based on these studies, including ideas U.S. pork exporters can use to build the U.S. pork business in Vietnam and the Philippines. The full report is available at pork.to/international. The Pork Checkoff collaborated with USMEF and the National Pork Producers Council on the Vietnam and Philippines Market Assessment.
 
The full reports are available for download at pork.to/international.



CHS Inc. Owners Elect Seven Board Members During Annual Meeting

CHS Inc. owners elected seven board members to three-year terms during the cooperative's 2020 annual meeting held virtually Dec. 3 in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. CHS Inc. is the nation's largest cooperative and a leading global agribusiness company owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States.

Newly elected to a three-year term is:
    Cortney Wagner, a Hardin, Montana, resident, who succeeds Edward Malesich. Malesich retired from the Board of Directors on Dec. 3, 2020. Wagner was elected in Region 2, which represents CHS owners in Montana and Wyoming. Wagner is a first-generation cattle and hay producer. Her family has experience in farming and cooperative management dating back to 1939. She attended the University of North Dakota with a focus on finance and psychology. She has also served as a trust associate at 1st National Bank and Trust Company. She has been appointed to the Board's Governance Committee and the CHS Foundation Board of Trustees.

Reelected to three-year terms are:
    C.J. Blew, who operates a farm and ranch business in a family partnership in south central Kansas, representing Region 8
    Scott Cordes, who operates a corn and soybean farm near Wanamingo, Minnesota, representing Region 1
    Jon Erickson, who raises grains and oilseeds and operates a commercial Hereford-Angus cow-calf business near Minot, North Dakota, representing Region 3
    Tracy Jones, who raises corn, soybeans and wheat and feeds cattle near Kirkland, Illinois, representing Region 5
    Perry Meyer, who raises corn, soybean and hogs near New Ulm, Minnesota, representing Region 1
    Dan Schurr, who raises corn and soybeans near LeClaire, Iowa, and operates a commercial trucking business, representing Region 7

Following the annual meeting, the board held its annual reorganization meeting. Each of the following board members was elected to one-year officer terms:
    Dan Schurr, chair
    C.J. Blew, first vice chair
    Jon Erickson, second vice chair
    Russ Kehl, secretary-treasurer
    Steve Riegel, assistant secretary-treasurer

CHS Inc. is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, agronomy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to creating connections to empower agriculture, helping its farmer-owners, customers and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, seed, crop protection products, grain marketing services, production and agricultural services, animal nutrition products, foods and food ingredients, and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries and pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.



Registration Opens for 2021 National Ethanol Conference

Registration is now open for the Renewable Fuels Association’s 26th annual National Ethanol Conference, to be held in a fully digital format February 16-18. Those registering before the January 19 early-bird deadline will enjoy big savings on a packed program that already comes at a lower rate compared to 2020’s event.

“These rates for the National Ethanol Conference, along with a convenient schedule spread over three days, will allow more people to take part in what has been the most visionary policy and marketing event for the renewable fuels industry,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Attendees will hear from leaders across the value chain and dive deep into topics such as ethanol’s place in a low-carbon future, federal energy policy in transition, and new research on how consumers view renewable fuels. As RFA celebrates its 40th anniversary next year, we’ve got a landmark event planned to match the milestone.”

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. In addition to enabling broader participation, the digital format will 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.



Biofuels Coalition Files Brief Challenging 31 Small Refinery Exemptions in 2018

Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Biodiesel Board, American Coalition for Ethanol, and National Farmers Union today filed a brief challenging EPA’s August 2019 decision to exempt 31 small refineries from their obligations to comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard in 2018. Collectively known as the Biofuels Coalition for this case, the group submitted its filing to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that EPA lacked the authority to issue such exemptions and that it acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner in attempting to do so.

In its brief, the Coalition asserts some of the same arguments that the Renewable Fuels Association, NCGA, NFU, and ACE successfully made in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals against three small refinery exemptions, including the fact that EPA lacked the authority to extend small refinery exemptions that had lapsed in earlier years. The Coalition also took on EPA’s failure to provide its own refinery-by-refinery analysis to support a finding of a disproportionate economic hardship, particularly in the 20 instances where EPA decided to grant a full exemption despite the Department of Energy recommending that only a partial exemption be granted. In addition, the Biofuels Coalition posed the same question on which the Tenth Circuit found EPA inexcusably silent: If all RFS compliance costs are ultimately passed through to end users and recovered, as EPA has repeatedly maintained, how is it that any small refinery can suffer a disproportionate economic hardship?

“Among all of EPA’s indefensible actions surrounding small refinery exemptions in recent years, the Agency’s two-page decision to grant 31 waivers from 2018 RFS compliance really takes the cake. Enough is enough,” Coalition representatives said. “The EPA had absolutely no legal basis for continuing to destroy demand for renewable fuels, which is contrary to the intent of Congress for the RFS program. When it adopted the RFS in 2005, Congress clearly intended for small refinery exemptions to be temporary in nature. Yet, 15 years later, some refiners—most of whom have readily complied with RFS obligations in the past—are trying to claim they need more time to prepare for compliance with RFS requirements. If these exemptions were meant to be a ‘bridge to compliance’, as concluded by the courts, it should be obvious that we all crossed that bridge many years ago.”

In prior years, EPA would respond separately to each small refinery exemption petition with several pages of analysis on the individual refinery’s unique circumstances. However, for the 2018 exemptions, EPA announced its decisions on more than three dozen refinery petitions in a single, two-page memorandum issued by Acting Assistant Administrator Anne Idsal. That brevity alone reflects EPA’s reflexive reaction to exempt oil interests from compliance whenever they asked without justification.



EIA Short-term Energy Outlook Forecast Highlights
https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/

    The December Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) remains subject to heightened levels of uncertainty because responses to COVID-19 continue to evolve. Reduced economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in energy demand and supply patterns in 2020 and will continue to affect these patterns in the future. U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 4.4% in the first half of 2020 from the same period a year ago. GDP began rising in the third quarter of 2020, and this STEO assumes it will grow by 3.1% annually in 2021 from 2020. The U.S. macroeconomic assumptions in this outlook are based on forecasts by IHS Markit completed in early November.

    Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $43 per barrel (b) in November, up $3/b from the average in October. Brent prices increased in November in part because of news about the viability of multiple COVID-19 vaccines, along with market expectations that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and partner countries (OPEC+) would delay or limit production increases planned for January 2021.

    The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects that Brent prices will average $49/b in 2021, up from an expected average of $43/b in the fourth quarter of 2020. The forecast for higher crude oil prices next year reflects EIA's expectation that while inventories will remain high, they will decline with rising global oil demand and restrained OPEC+ oil production. EIA forecasts Brent prices will average $47/b in the first quarter of 2021 and rise to an average of $50/b by the fourth quarter. The first quarter 2021 average is $5/b more than forecast in last month's STEO, and the fourth quarter average is $1/b more. The higher expected first quarter prices reflect steeper expected global oil inventory draws as a result of the December 3 OPEC+ decision to limit its previously planned production increases in January 2021. EIA expects high global oil inventory levels and surplus crude oil production capacity will limit upward pressure on oil prices through much of 2021.

    EIA forecasts OPEC crude oil production will average 27.5 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2021, up from an estimated 25.6 million b/d in 2020. The increase reflects OPEC's announced potential increases to production targets and production increases in Libya. At the December 3 meeting, OPEC and OPEC+ participants decided to limit oil production increases planned for January 2021. OPEC+ announced it will increase its production target by 0.5 million b/d in January 2021. The group had initially planned to increase its target by 2.0 million b/d. The group will also assess the state of global oil markets and petroleum demand monthly, adjusting targets based on market conditions. EIA now forecasts OPEC crude oil production will average 25.7 million b/d in the first quarter of 2021, which is 1.7 million b/d lower than forecast in the November STEO and reflects the announced changes to OPEC+ targets and more effective assumed compliance with targets.

    EIA estimates that the world consumed 95.6 million b/d of petroleum and liquid fuels in November, which is down 6.3 million b/d from November 2019 but up from the third-quarter 2020 average of 93.5 million b/d. EIA forecasts that global consumption of petroleum and liquid fuels will average 92.4 million b/d for all of 2020, which is down by 8.8 million b/d from 2019, before increasing by 5.8 million b/d in 2021.

    EIA estimates that U.S. crude oil production was 11.2 million b/d in November, which is up from 10.9 million b/d in September (the most recent month for which historical data are available). The increase mostly reflects greater production in the U.S. Federal Gulf of Mexico after hurricane-related disruptions. EIA expects that U.S. crude oil production will decline to less than 11.0 million b/d in March 2021 mostly because of falling production in the Lower 48 states, where EIA expects declining production rates at existing wells will outpace production from newly drilled wells in the coming months. EIA expects crude oil production in the Lower 48 states will increase from 8.7 million b/d in February 2021 to 9.1 million b/d in December 2021, as drilling increases in response to rising oil prices. This increase contributes to total U.S. crude oil production reaching 11.4 million b/d in December 2021. On an annual average basis, EIA expects U.S. crude oil production to fall from 12.2 million b/d in 2019 to 11.3 million b/d in 2020 and 11.1 million b/d in 2021.



Mercaris Shines Light on First Quarter Trends in Organic Imports

Lower than anticipated organic whole corn imports from Argentina and slowed organic soybean imports from Argentina and Russia have set the 20/21 marketing year off to an interesting start, according to the Mercaris Monthly Update released today.

Mercaris’ organic import data indicates that over the first three months of the 2020/21 marketing year organic corn imports were down 62 percent year over year, while organic soybean imports were down 8 percent year over year. In contrast to organic corn and soybeans, soybean meal imports have surged since the start of the marketing year, up 156 percent year over year, and far exceeding anticipated growth.

“We’re starting to see some trends that may lead to U.S. organic feed grade soybeans beginning to feel price pressure” says Ryan Koory, Director of Economics at Mercaris. “November marks the third consecutive month of significant year over year growth in imports.”

In addition to its monthly reports, Mercaris has a full suite of tools available to those looking for more analysis on imports and additional segment-specific reports, like the Dairy Market Analysis, which debuted in late November. The new dairy analysis helps address critical market information for the organic dairy sector that was previously lacking for the industry.



Meat Institute Welcomes Growing Support for Prioritizing Vaccines for Frontline Meat and Poultry Workers

Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) joined a growing chorus of support for prioritizing COVID-19 vaccination for frontline meat and poultry workers.

Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts commented:
“We welcome growing support for building on effective COVID-19 prevention measures by ensuring priority access to vaccines for frontline meat and poultry workers. “Vaccination is the next critical step that will protect this diverse workforce and facilitate vaccine distribution in rural areas with limited health services.”

According to Meat and Poultry, Governor Kelly said December 4 that meatpacking plants will be near the top of the priority list to receive the COVID-19 vaccination following health care workers and those in long-term care facilities.

LULAC welcomed Governor Kelly’s statement, saying “Food and agricultural workers are heroes. They have been on the front lines of the pandemic, ensuring Americans have access to safe, nutritious, affordable food and they should be at the front of the line for the vaccine as well.”

The Meat Institute joined the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council in requesting the nation’s governors include meat workers in priority vaccine plans.

The Meat Institute is advocating that federal authorities also consider the scientific, ethical, and distribution benefits of prioritizing vaccination for frontline meat and poultry workers, which are also being considered around the world, including in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Meat Institute members are also offering cold storage capacity that could aid vaccine distribution for all Americans.



Legal Challenge Filed to Push By EPA, Pesticide Industry to Keep Bee-Killing Pesticide on Market
Press Release

Center for Food Safety (CFS) and the Center for Biological Diversity filed an opposition brief yesterday in their ongoing litigation challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor.

The groups are opposing the request by the EPA and Dow Chemical for approval of sulfoxaflor’s use across a wide range of landscapes. Yesterday’s opposition brief asks the court to reject the EPA’s request and to immediately vacate the unlawful approval of the pesticide in order to protect the environment and some of the nation’s most endangered species.

“EPA admitted it failed to follow the law when it approved sulfoxaflor without any consideration for our nation’s endangered and threatened species, yet asks the Court to overlook the harm to imperiled species so that Dow can continue to sell this toxic pesticide,” said Sylvia Wu, senior attorney at Center for Food Safety. “EPA has had nearly a decade to comply with the Endangered Species Act, but it chose not to. The Court must not allow EPA’s flagrant disregard of the law and our nation's most sensitive species to stand.”

The EPA reapproved sulfoxaflor in July 2019, after its initial 2013 registration was struck down by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for the agency’s failure to assess the pesticide’s impact on bees.

The EPA’s 2019 approval authorized use of sulfoxaflor across more than 200 million acres of U.S. crops. The approval was granted despite the agency’s own scientists’ determination that sulfoxaflor is "very highly toxic" to bees and the documented harm to threatened species. The decision expanded sulfoxaflor's use to a wide range of bee-attractive crops, including soybeans, cotton, strawberries, squash and citrus trees.

“It is just mind-boggling that amid an insect apocalypse, the EPA is pushing to dramatically expand use of a pollinator-killing insecticide,” said Stephanie Parent, senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. “By refusing to even consider sulfoxaflor’s harm to the nation’s most endangered plants and animals, the EPA is callously risking the extinction of amazing creatures, like the rusty patched bumblebee, Oregon silverspot butterfly and Hines emerald dragonfly.”

The two groups sued the EPA in August 2019 for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and Endangered Species Act (ESA). During the course of the litigation, the EPA admitted its approval violated the ESA because it did not consider sulfoxaflor’s effects on endangered species. Instead of removing the unlawful pesticide from the market, the EPA asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to permit the continued sale and use of sulfoxaflor while the EPA takes at least seven years to consider the pesticide’s impact on endangered plants and animals.