Tuesday January 26 Ag News

 Sumner Native Elected to Lead Pork Association

Shana Beattie of Sumner, Nebraska was elected as President of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NPPA) at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors. The NPPA Directors met on January 14, 2021 at the Holthus Conventions Center in York, Nebraska. Joining Beattie on NPPA’s leadership team are President-Elect, Jared Lierman of Beemer, and Mark Wright of Fremont as Vice President.

Shana was first elected to the NPPA board in 2016. Prior to becoming a NPPA Director, she participated in the Pork Leadership Institute (PLI), a comprehensive training program conducted jointly by the National Pork Board (NPB) and National Pork Producer Council (NPPC) designed to develop future leaders for the U.S. pork industry. She has advocated for pork producers in Washington and is an active participate in legislative and regulatory issues at the state level. She has served as a NPB and NPPC Forum delegate and has attended numerous meetings and conferences on behalf of the association.

Beattie was the recipient of the 2018 AG-Ceptional Women’s award recognizing her exceptional contributions to Agriculture. The award is presented annually during the AG-Ceptional Women’s Conference sponsored by Northeast Community College. A graduate of the University of Florida, her hobbies include gardening, cooking, baking, and volunteering with the youth in her 4-H and FFA communities. 

Beattie, her husband Bart, and four children live on a 5th generation farming operation near Sumner where she takes an active role in Beattie Family Farms. A diversified operation of crop rotation including corn, soybeans, alfalfa, a partner on a 10,000 head sow farm wean to finish swine operation and a commercial cow/calf ranching operation utilizing grasses and forage in central Nebraska.

When recently asked what she was looking forward to as NPPA President, Shana replied, “getting back to business. Our producers have never stopped doing business through this pandemic continually producing a quality product. As far as an association we have had to take a COVID break from our normal activities. We now want to focus on getting back on the road and get fact-to-face with our producers, legislative representatives, and industry partners. Additionally, we want to be able to travel so we can be involved with trade promotions meetings such as the U.S. Meat Export Federation and possibly by fall be part of an international trade mission.”



Raising Freezer Beef: Management Considerations
Adele Harty – South Dakota State University Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist

A trend that has become more prominent in recent years is for ranchers to finish a few animals and sell beef direct to the consumer. Consumers have a desire to know where their beef comes from, value the story and are seeking ranchers to purchase beef from. At the same time, ranchers have been seeking opportunities to add value to their cattle and reduce their exposure to market swings.
However, feeding and managing a grain-finished animal is different than managing a cowherd or backgrounding calves. Proper feeding and management is key to capturing extra value and in meeting customer expectations. This is part two of a four-part series for ranchers who have a small group of cattle with limited equipment who are planning to finish a few head of cattle each year. This article will address management considerations for finishing out beef cattle.

Finishing Diet
Finishing cattle on a concentrate diet doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does take additional management to ensure the health and performance of the cattle are maintained. There are some key management factors that can help ensure a successful outcome with feeding cattle. This article will address ration options, acidosis, step-up rations, feeding times and pen management for cattle fed concentrate diets to reach a finished end point.

Many variations of concentrate diets can be used to finish cattle. The ratio of concentrate to forage will impact days on feed to finish. Slaughter dates need to be considered for determining the appropriate level of concentrate to include when planning rations to ensure that projected performance coincides with projected end points and slaughter dates. No matter which locker plant you work with, most are six months to a year or more out for scheduling animals, so planning is crucial.

Environment
Maintaining a comfortable environment can make a major difference in how cattle perform. Muddy pens can be particularly a problem as even a few inches of mud reduce gains and feed efficiency. Selecting well-drained locations with wind protection reduce risk. Removing snow before it melts and providing bedding also will improve pen conditions and cattle comfort.

Acidosis Management
Management steps need to be taken to prevent acidosis. The risk for acidosis can follow a rapid increase in highly fermentable feeds in the ration, which increases rumen acidity and can ultimately result in rumen and intestinal wall damage. Depending on acidosis severity, there could be long-term negative effects on performance. A tool to help manage against acidosis is to include a feed additive that inhibits lactate-producing microbes, stimulates lactate-using bacteria or starch-engulfing protozoa. Other management strategies to prevent acidosis are to modify the ratio of forage to concentrate in the ration by increasing forage and decreasing concentrate. Additionally, processing grain less thoroughly, such as just cracking it versus grinding finer can reduce the risk of acidosis by slowing down the release of starch into the rumen environment.  

Step-up rations need to be utilized to adapt cattle to increased concentrate levels in the feed. Once a plan is made for projected time on feed and the plan for the final ratio of concentrate to forage, step-up rations can be determined to acclimate the rumen microbes to the increase in starch content and change in rumen pH to help prevent acidosis that can result if the transition is too rapid. When starting cattle on concentrate, begin with a ration that is 40% concentrate and increase the concentrate by 10% each week until the desired level is reached. For instance, in week 2 the diet would be approximately 50% concentrate and 50% roughage. It will take approximately a month to get cattle to full feed.

Feeding Frequency
Finally, feeding cattle more frequent, smaller meals can also mitigate risk. Feeding cattle multiple times per day can help stimulate intake by putting fresh feed in front of the animals which can result in improved animal performance. Depending on bunk capacity, this may be a necessity in order to get enough feed in front of the cattle for a 24-hour period. It is important to observe the bunks to determine how well cattle are cleaning up the feed and whether or not additional feed needs to be provided or needs to be decreased. Ideally you would want to have a few crumbles left, which indicates they are eating as much as they want, but not starving by the time you feed them again. If they bunk is slick every time they are fed, you probably need to increase their feed slightly. Don’t increase feed offered by more than one pound of dry matter at a time and don’t increase more often than about every three days.



Center for Rural Affairs offers zero interest recovery loans

The Center for Rural Affairs has launched a recovery loan program to help Nebraska businesses and local economies recover from the pandemic. Loans of up to $50,000 will qualify for zero percent interest through 2021, and loans of up to $250,000 are available at reduced rates.

“Small businesses in almost every industry continue to cope with the economic impact of COVID-19,” said Kim Preston, Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) director. “The Center for Rural Affairs has assisted in many ways during this last year, from payment relief to disaster recovery trainings. We know this is a difficult time for many, and we hope these specialized loans will help out.”

Loan uses can include business recovery, business growth, new business start, working capital, equipment, inventory, and real estate. Up to $2 million will be deployed to qualified borrowers.

Eligible borrowers may qualify for six months of payment relief from the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Businesses who do not receive relief through the SBA may qualify for up to 6 months of Center for Rural Affairs deferred repayment.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Center for Rural Affairs made emergency credit available to all qualifying Nebraska small business owners with Express Loans. These loans are still available for new and returning borrowers with credit needs of $15,000 or less.

In addition, staff working remotely as much as possible continue to provide coaching and resources to small business owners. These services are offered in both English and Spanish.

“Our borrowers are an important part of the communities we serve,” Preston said. “We are committed to supporting local businesses. We’re in this for the long haul.”

The Center for Rural Affairs, based in Lyons, Nebraska, has lent more than $21 million to Nebraska small businesses since establishing its REAP program in 1990.

Visit cfra.org/loans to apply. Current borrowers can contact their loans specialist or call 402.687.2100.



INVENTORING REMAINING FEED SUPPLY
– Todd Whitney, NE Extension Educator

Our winter mid-point is Feb. 2 (Ground Hog Day), so now may be a good time to inventory your remaining hay and forage. Remember you can’t effectively manage; what you do not measure.

Do you have enough hay and forage to last the remainder of winter? Your answer may depend on the following: Will La Niña winter drought conditions continue?  How likely will open forage grazing conditions continue? Are heavy snow events predicted which could impact your forage grazing?

When making your feed management decisions, consider using ‘best case’ and ‘worst case’ scenarios. Focus on completing a thorough inventory, account for all feed resources; even counting all bales available. Calculate remaining bunker silage. Estimate forage grazing still available, and assign economic values to your remaining forage.

Compare what feed resources you have versus what your herd may need.  For example, a 200 head lactating cow herd average cow size of 1,200 pounds will need about 3.2 tons of hay per day...not accounting for waste.

Focus on making the best use of your feed resources. Would it be financially beneficial to sell your extra highest quality forage and feed the rest? If mild winter conditions continue, selling your higher value forage could generate more cash-flow toward paying taxes and land payments.

If your cows are thin, consider the opposite; sell your lower quality forage and feed your higher quality. Thin condition score cows need more protein and energy to keep from dropping body condition and maintaining their milk production.

If you need assistance managing your remaining feed resources and evaluating your hay and forage needs, Nebraska Extension educational resources are available online at CropWatch, BeefWatch and beef.unl.edu



Iowa Biofuels Industry is “Battered, But Battling”

During his state of the industry address at the 2021 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw characterizes the Iowa biofuels industry as “battered, but battling for a better future” – emphasizing the many opportunities to expand biofuels demand in the state, across the country, and around the world.

“Our industry just suffered through the triple whammy of RFS exemptions, lost export markets, and COVID demand destruction piled on top of each other,” Shaw said. “Yet, here we are. Which is what I love most about this industry. The power of biofuels to propel the rural economy is so great that the people in this industry will simply never give up. That, my friends, is the state of the Iowa biofuels industry in 2021: battered, but battling for a better future.”

Shaw touched on several federal and state battles biofuel producers currently face and encouraged them to keep up the fight. He noted that while Iowa biodiesel production was strong in 2020, Iowa ethanol production fell by half a billion gallons. He called on Iowa leaders to authorize $15 million a year for the next five years to fund Iowa’s cost-share grant program that enables retailers to update fuel infrastructure to sell higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel, entitled the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP).

“Is this aggressive? Yes. Can it be done? Absolutely,” Shaw said. “IRFA stands ready to work with the legislature to explore ways to secure this new funding without creating shortfalls in other areas. In order for Iowa to forge a better future, this is a battle worth fighting.”



Growth Energy CEO at IRFA Summit: New Opportunities on the Horizon for Biofuels

This morning, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor delivered the keynote address at Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s Annual Iowa Renewable Fuel Virtual Summit. In her speech, Skor reviewed the successes and challenges faced by the ethanol industry over the last year and outlined the opportunities ahead in 2021 for the biofuels industry to work with a new Administration in Washington as a key voice on President Biden’s climate initiatives and rebuilding the rural economy.

Highlights from Skor’s remarks are available below, and her full speech as prepared for delivery is available here:

On Working with the Biden Administration:
"...We look forward to working with this White House to ensure they keep those promises, and restore strength to the rural economy, while addressing our country’s climate goals. But President Biden will need to act swiftly and boldly to meet the current challenges facing rural communities.  If he is successful, it will send an unmistakable signal that we have a sincere partner in the White House.”  

On Upholding the RFS:
“...Make no mistake, we won a major battle at the end of the Trump administration against gap-year exemptions, but we haven’t yet won the war. There are still 65 small refinery exemptions sitting at the EPA...And we won’t let up until the SRE pipeline is shut down, just as the 10th Circuit Court intended...On this front, our aim remains simple – the RFS of tomorrow should be stronger and more forward-leaning than the RFS of the past...”

On Higher Blends:
 “ Last year was the worst fuel market in 30 years. Retailers across the board suspended capital investment. But E15 sites actually grew 10%.... E15 is now available at nearly 2,300 locations...And I’m excited to announce that we’ve recently formed a new partnership that is uniquely positioned to help bring E15 to consumers in untapped markets from Colorado to the Pacific. So be sure to keep an eye out for more updates later this spring...To fast-track this progress, we also helped our retail partners secure nearly $30 million in grants under USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP)…"

Ethanol as a Climate Solution:
“... Leaders need to know what we know – there is no silver bullet to decarbonizing the transportation sector...But growing the share of renewable biofuels in our fuel supply can and will accelerate our transition to a healthier, zero-emission future and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels...”

In her remarks on ethanol’s climate benefits, Skor referenced a new report led by David MacIntosh, Chief Science Officer of Environmental Health and Engineering, Inc. (EH&E) and Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, that found that greenhouse gas emissions from corn ethanol are 46% lower than gasoline, up from the estimated 39% done by previous modeling. The same report also shows a 25-fold improvement on land use change:

“An effective climate strategy must recognize the critical role biofuels play in decarbonizing our transportation sector and bring our farmers into the fold in addressing the climate crisis. It must build on the success of the RFS, increase the use of low-carbon biofuels, and expand market access for higher blends. And the modeling behind that strategy must reflect the best available science.

“The latest landmark study – published days ago by an adjunct professor at Harvard – shows ethanol’s carbon intensity score is 46 percent lower than gasoline’s and importantly shows a 25-fold improvement on land use change.”  



Harvard, Tufts, EH&E Scientists Find Corn Ethanol Reduces Carbon Emissions by Nearly 50%

A comprehensive new study by scientists from Harvard University, Tufts University and Environmental Health & Engineering Inc. shows that using corn ethanol in place of gasoline reduces greenhouse gas emissions by almost half. The “central best estimate” of corn ethanol’s carbon intensity is 46% lower than the average carbon intensity of gasoline, according to the study’s authors, with some corn ethanol in the market today achieving a 61% reduction. The study credits recent efficiency improvements and the adoption of new technologies for the steady reduction in the lifecycle carbon intensity of corn ethanol. The new study will be published in an upcoming volume of Environmental Research Letters, a well-respected academic journal.

“This new study provides further validation that ethanol is a highly effective tool that for decarbonizing liquid transportation fuels and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector,” said Renewable Fuels Association President & CEO Geoff Cooper. “And with ethanol, we don’t have to wait and hope for technological and economic breakthroughs. It’s here today at a low cost and already has a proven track record. Ethanol can and should be allowed to do more to contribute to the fight against climate change, and that starts by breaking down the barriers to higher blends like E15, E30, and flex fuels like E85. As President Biden’s administration and the new Congress consider actions and policies to address climate change, we encourage them to examine the best available science and properly account for the critical role ethanol and other renewable fuels can play in securing immediate GHG reductions.”

Cooper pointed out that the scientists found that emissions from land-use change are only “a minor contributor” to the overall carbon footprint of corn ethanol, accounting for just 7% of total GHG emissions.

According to EH&E’s Chief Science Officer David MacIntosh, one of the study’s authors, “This research provides an up-to-date accounting of corn starch ethanol's GHG profile in comparison to that of gasoline refined from crude oil. The results of this research are timely for the scientific, public health, legislative, and business communities seeking to establish a net-zero carbon economy while addressing related technological, political and economic challenges.”



New Study Showing Corn Ethanol Reduces Carbon Emissions by Nearly 50 Percent Cites ACE Low Carbon White Paper

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings today recognized a new study published by Harvard University, Tufts University and Environmental Health & Engineering Inc. scientists as an illustration of ethanol’s carbon footprint, but reiterated there is more work to do if policy is to be done correctly.

The study cites ACE’s 2018 White Paper titled “The Case for Properly Valuing the Low Carbon Benefits of Corn Ethanol” that highlights how U.S. farmers and ethanol producers are improving efficiencies, investing in technologies, and adopting practices to dramatically reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from corn ethanol.

“The findings in this report reinforce what we have been promoting for the last several years; the greenhouse gas reduction benefits of corn ethanol have been significantly undervalued because too many regulatory bodies refuse to apply or use the latest lifecycle science,” Jennings said. “Today’s corn ethanol indeed reduces GHGs by approximately 50 percent compared to gasoline, and given improvements occurring in corn farming and within ethanol facilities, corn ethanol’s carbon footprint will continue to decline over time.”

“As elected leaders at the state and federal level look to craft new policies to tackle climate change and meet net-zero emission goals, we strongly encourage them to appreciate that corn farmers and ethanol producers are part of the solution,” Jennings added. “Agriculture and ethanol can make even more meaningful contributions to GHG reductions if new policies reward farmers for climate-smart practices and expand the use of mid-level ethanol blends.”



Report: Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Corn Ethanol 46% Lower Than Gasoline

A new report published by the Environmental Research Letters found that greenhouse gas emissions from corn ethanol are 46% lower than gasoline, up from the estimated 39% done by previous modeling. The report, led by David MacIntosh, Chief Science Officer of Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. (EH&E) and Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and consulted by dozens of experts in academia, updates ethanol’s carbon intensity score to reflect how continuous improvements in technology and practices have driven further emissions reductions in the lifecycle of ethanol and will lead to net zero renewable fuel in the future.

“In light of the United States’ renewed effort to achieve a net zero carbon economy, our research team believes this critical review is a timely contribution to establishing an accurate, common understanding of the greenhouse gas profile for corn ethanol in comparison to gasoline refined from crude oil,” said MacIntosh. “Our findings indicated that displacement of gasoline with ethanol produced from biofuels yields greater greenhouse gas benefits than are generally recognized and that prior analyses of the payback period for conversion of land to corn production should be updated.  

“We believe the results of our analysis are relevant to continued development and refinement of low carbon fuel standard programs in the US.”

EH&E’s new research further underscores the impact biofuels have on greenhouse gas emissions and the technological improvements on GHG data collection. A study done late last year found that transitioning to higher ethanol blends (from E10 to E15) would lower greenhouse gas emissions by 17.62 million tons per year, the equivalent of removing approximately 3.85 million vehicles on the road.

“The evidence proves time and time again that ethanol should play a key role in our nation’s climate goals of decarbonizing the transportation sector and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “This latest report from EH&E provides a much-needed update to ethanol’s carbon intensity score to highlight as our country, and our new Administration, make climate change a top priority moving forward.”



Study Finds Dairy Calves Benefit from Higher-Protein Starter

Dairy producers know early nutrition for young calves has far-reaching impacts, both for the long-term health and productivity of the animals and for farm profitability. With the goal of increasing not just body weight but also lean tissue gain, a new University of Illinois study finds enhanced milk replacer with high crude-protein dry starter feed is the winning combination.

"Calves fed more protein with the starter had less fat in their body weight gain, and more protein was devoted to the development of the gastrointestinal system, compared with the lower starter protein," says James Drackley, professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Illinois and co-author on the study. "Our results say producers who are feeding calves a more aggressive amount of milk for greater rates of gain should be feeding a higher protein starter along with that."

Producers typically feed milk replacer along with a grain-based starter feed to kick-start development of the rumen ahead of forage consumption. Yet the Journal of Dairy Science study is the first to specifically examine body composition changes, versus simple body weight, in response to milk replacer and high-protein starter feed.

Understanding where the nutrients go in the body makes a big difference.

"If producers aren't providing enough protein in the starter as the calves go through the weaning process, they might be limiting development of the gastrointestinal system, which is needed to provide nutrients for the rest of the body," Drackley says.

Drackley and his co-authors started two-to-three-day-old calves on one of three experimental diets: a low rate of milk replacer + conventional starter (18% crude protein, as-fed basis); a high rate of milk replacer + conventional starter; and a high rate of milk replacer + high crude-protein starter (22% crude protein, as-fed basis). Additional protein in the high-protein starter was provided by soybean meal, compared with conventional starter, which was a mixture of wheat middlings, soybean meal, and corn, among other ingredients. The calves were weaned at six weeks of age, and were harvested at five or 10 weeks to determine body composition.

"After weaning, the weights of the digestive system and liver were greater with the higher protein starter," Drackley says. "It might be part of the reason why a slump in growth is often seen right around the time of weaning when calves are fed a conventional starter. The calves just don't have the developed digestive system to be able to keep things going as they change from the milk diet to the dry feed diet."

He adds that calves fed the higher rate of milk replacer grew more rapidly and had more lean tissue, with less fat.

"The low rate of milk replacer has been fairly standard, historically. It's designed to provide the maintenance needs and a small rate of growth, and to encourage calves to consume the dry feed at an earlier age. But research has supported the use of higher rates, so we're trying to shift the industry towards rates of milk feeding we think are more appropriate," Drackley says. "Now we have good reason to point producers to high-protein starter, as well."

The article, "Influence of starter crude protein content on growth and body composition of dairy calves in an enhanced early nutrition program," is published in the Journal of Dairy Science [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19580]. Authors include Jennifer Stamey Lanier, Floyd McKeith, Nicole Janovick, Rodrigo Molano, Michael Van Amburgh, and James Drackley. Funding was provided in part by Milk Specialties Company and the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station.



2021 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) Moves to July

Produced by BBI International, the world’s largest ethanol event has announced new dates for a physical event in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Minneapolis, Minnesota – (January 26, 2021) – BBI International recently announced that the 2021 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, the ethanol industry's largest conference, has been moved to July. Originally scheduled for mid-June in Minneapolis, the FEW is now rescheduled to take place July 13th through the 15th, 2021 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“Based on the latest vaccine dissemination information and feedback we have received from our sponsors and exhibitors, BBI International’s leadership team has made the decision to reschedule the event to July to put us in the backend of the year,” said John Nelson, vice president at BBI International. “With that said, I can’t express enough how excited and eager we are to get back to a physical event and make 2021 the best FEW yet.”

The FEW will be offering four tracks of comprehensive content designed for ethanol production and will be bringing back a co-located event titled, “Biodiesel Production and Technology Summit.” Produced by Biodiesel Magazine, the co-located event is intended for biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to learn about cutting-edge process technologies, new techniques and equipment to optimize existing production, and efficiencies to save money while increasing throughput and fuel quality.

Visit www.FuelEthanolWorkshop.com to learn more.  



BEEF CHECKOFF: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
Greg Hanes, CEO, Cattlemen’s Beef Board

When it comes to relationships, people can be fickle. On the one hand, it’s often easier to remember a decades-old answer to “Does this shirt make me look fat?” than the kindness from the day before. On the other hand, trust grown over years can quickly be forgotten due to society’s what-have-you-done-for-me-lately mentality. Even within the beef industry, it’s tempting to view the 35-year-old Checkoff with skepticism. But if you look at the many value-added ways it serves producers’ interests, you may come away with a different perspective.

Here are just a few of the things that Beef Checkoff contractors have delivered over the past few months:

CONSUMER TRUST
    Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner’s. “United We Steak” campaign reached more than 283 million consumers through paid advertising, social media, earned media, and influencer outreach.
    A Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. video series featured feedyard manager Tom Fanning showing Chef Kathryn Mathis how cattle are cared for at feedyards.
    Two livestream events educated more than 1,000 educators on how beef production provides an excellent context for middle school and high school science.
    Webinars hosted by nutritionist Marianne Smith Edge provided insights to Northeast dietitians about consumers during the pandemic and sustainable food systems.
    Six new blogs were posted on VealFarm.com, including one by meat scientist Janeal Yancy, Ph.D./the University of Arkansas addressing veal and meat safety.
    Meat Demand Monitor research revealed what post-COVID vaccine consumer behavior may look like, helping the Checkoff determine the best future use of producer dollars.

EXPORT GROWTH
    Tracking efforts revealed November beef exports were up 6% from a year ago (largest since July 19) and export values climbed 8% year over year.
    Market development programs paid dividends in November as U.S. beef exports to China were up 700% from a year ago.
    Beef export value averaged $338.43 per head of fed slaughter (Nov20); 14.8% of total beef produced in the U.S. during this time was exported, much of which was underutilized cuts not popular in the U.S.

INNOVATION
    The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. holiday “drool log” commercial ran more than 50 times on the Hallmark Channel last month.
    The #WienerWednesday campaign on TikTok received more than 27 million views.

INVESTOR RELATIONS
    The Drive print and e-newsletter now reaches nearly 100,000 producers with details about how the Checkoff dollar drives beef demand.

NUTRITION & HEALTH
    Registered dietitians, nutritionists, and nurses are advocating beef’s role in a healthy diet and affirming prepared beef’s role as a balanced protein source.
    The “Guide to Meat Processing for the Nutrition Community” helped health and nutrition experts advise about dietary needs and provided valuable details about meat consumption and processing.
    A new study showed that beef consumption is positively associated with better mental health; the companion article has been downloaded more than 50,000 times by health and nutrition experts.

RESEARCH
    The Meat Demand Monitor issued its first-ever multi-month report providing insight into consumer purchasing behaviors, demand, and consumption during the pandemic.
    The Sustainability Research & Scientific Affairs program completed an update to its beef environmental lifecycle assessment in 2020; findings will be published in 2021.

SAFETY
    More than 75 Beef Quality Assurance educators attended a virtual event to learn about meat quality, biosecurity, foreign material avoidance and international trade from industry experts.
    The Veal Quality Assurance program provided U.S. veal farms with a clipboard outlining best management practices for calf health, nutrition and handling.
    At the annual Antibiotic Symposium, beef producers collaborated with veterinarians, animal health professionals and animal ag leaders on how to become better stewards of antibiotics while combating antimicrobial resistance.

So, what has the Checkoff dollar done lately? As you can see, quite a bit. And the best part? 2021 is just getting started!

To learn more about Checkoff programs, projects, and resources, visit DrivingDemandForBeef.com.  



Insights from global industry surveys revealed during the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience

The January session of the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience  launched on Tuesday with the 2021 Agri-Food Outlook, featuring insights supported by data from Alltech’s industry-leading surveys. The presentation, which is available on demand, highlights results from the 10th annual Alltech Global Feed Survey and the second annual Women in Food & Agriculture Survey. During the virtual session, Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, speaks with global industry experts to go beyond the numbers and explore the trends shaping the future of agri-food.

The discussion focuses on five emerging trends and includes:
“China’s Rebound” with Jonathan Forrest Wilson, President of Asia, Alltech; and Winnie Wei Jia, Director of Customer Experience, Alltech China
“A Reshaping of the Supply Chain” with Eric Glenn, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain Director, Alltech; and Kathryn Britton, Senior Director of IMI Global Operations, Where Food Comes From, Inc.
“The Inexorable Rise of E-Commerce" with Anand Ramakrishnan Iyer, Digital Marketing Manager, Alltech
“Health-Conscious Consumers” with Nikki Putnam Badding, Director, Acutia and Human Nutrition Initiatives, Alltech
“Innovation Through Empathy and Inclusion” with Bianca Martins, General Manager, Alltech Mexico

“This has been an exceptional time for the agri-food industry,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “Agriculture stood strong in the face of adversity, and the global food supply chain continues to provide one of the most basic needs for human survival. The data and insights we have gathered reflect challenges, successes and extraordinary opportunities as we chart a course for the future.”

Results from the Alltech Global Feed Survey and the Women in Food & Agriculture Survey, including graphs and maps, are available on the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience platform in conjunction with the virtual session.  

Alltech Global Feed Survey:
Now in its 10th year, the Alltech Global Feed Survey serves as an invaluable barometer for the state of animal feed production. Fortified by a decade of documentation and research, it is the strongest evaluation of compound feed production and prices in the industry and is the most complete data source of its kind.

The 2021 Alltech Global Feed Survey estimates that international feed tonnage increased by 1%, to 1,187.7 million metric tons (MMT) of feed produced last year. China saw 5% growth and reclaimed its position as the top feed-producing country, with 240 MMT. Rounding out the top 10 feed-producing countries, including tonnage and growth percentage, are the U.S. (215.9 MMT, +1%), Brazil (77.6 MMT, +10%), India (39.3 MMT, -5%), Mexico (37.9 MMT, +4%), Spain (34.8 MMT, 0%), Russia (31.3 MMT, +3%), Japan (25.2 MMT, 0%), Germany (24.9 MMT, 0%) and Argentina (22.5, +7%). Altogether, these countries account for 63% of the world’s feed production and can be viewed as an indicator of the overall trends in agriculture.

The global data, collected from more than 140 countries and more than 28,000 feed mills, indicates feed production by species as follows: broilers, 28%; pigs, 24%; layers, 14%; dairy, 11%; beef, 10%; other species, 7%; aquaculture, 4%; and pets, 2%. The predominant growth came from the broiler, pig, aqua and pet feed sectors.

Going beyond the numbers for a holistic look at the state of the industry, the survey also incorporates qualitative questions to uncover trends such as COVID-19, sustainability and antibiotic reduction.

The 2021 Alltech Global Feed Survey results, including species-specific feed production numbers, interactive graphs and maps, are available at one.alltech.com/2021-global-feed-survey.

Women in Food & Agriculture Survey:
Alltech believes that inclusion cultivates creativity and drives innovation. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right — it is also essential to advancing society and the global agri-food industry. To gather real-world insights into the professional landscape for women in agriculture, Alltech supported the second annual Women in Food & Agriculture (WFA) Survey in partnership with AgriBriefing and the WFA Summit. Launched in October 2020, the survey aimed to collect feedback that empowers the agri-food industry to create a more equitable workplace environment.

For meaningful change to be possible, the conversation itself must be inclusive, so the survey gathered insights from men as well as women. Responses from more than 3,200 participants representing more than 80 countries and all sectors of agriculture shed light on the current workplace environment, barriers to success and the outlook for the future. As 2020 ushered in unprecedented challenges, questions related to COVID-19 reveal its impact on the workforce specifically.

In the survey, more than a fourth (26%) of female respondents indicated that they are the primary caretakers for children or aging parents while working from home. Additionally, 21% of women working within the agri-food industry indicated that they are concerned that working from home will negatively impact their careers. Conversely, 13% of male respondents shared the same concern for their career.  

With the majority (62%) of all respondents agreeing that the industry is becoming more inclusive, there is reason to be optimistic.

To access speaker insights from the 2021 Agri-Food Outlook and explore full data results from the Alltech Global Feed Survey and the Women in Food & Agriculture Survey, visit one.alltech.com/2021-agri-food-outlook.



Yale Law School Releases Videos and Papers from Its Big Ag & Antitrust Conference

Yale Law School released presentation videos from its January 16 virtual conference titled, “Big Ag & Antitrust: Competition Policy for a Humane and Sustainable Food System.” Nearly 1,000 people registered for the conference that included a keynote address from Christopher Leonard, author of the 2014 book, The Meat Racket. Leonard’s suggestion for needed antitrust enforcement in U.S. livestock industries is to end what he called the failed “consumer welfare experiment.” Leonard explained that antitrust enforcers should cease ignoring antitrust violations based on the erroneous belief that harms to livestock producers can be offset by benefits to consumers.

Following Leonard were panelists who each presented their original papers on antitrust issues, including R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard who presented his research paper, "Chronically Besieged: The U.S. Live Cattle Industry." Bullard explained how the U.S. cattle industry’s potential for rebuilding Rural America’s economy is thwarted by an ongoing disconnect between the value of cattle and the value of beef.

Bullard presented a chart viewable in the first panel of presenters’ video showing the inverse relationship between retail beef prices paid by consumers and cattle prices paid to producers. The chart reveals that during the past three years, retail beef prices trended upward while cattle prices trended downward.

Restoring competition for beef derived exclusively from U.S. cattle with a new mandatory country of origin labeling law for beef; and restoring competition in the cattle market by passing legislation to require packers to purchase at least 50% of their cattle needs in the competitive cash market were Bullard’s two “triage” recommendations for policymakers.     

The conference was held to discuss what kinds of reforms are needed in antitrust enforcement and regulations to improve America’s food system. It was co-hosted by the Thurman Arnold Project at Yale School of Management and the Law, Ethics & Animals Program at Yale Law School.