Friday March 12 Ag News

 Kruger named 2020 AG-ceptional woman of the year at Northeast Community College

A Columbus woman has been recognized for her contributions to agriculture.

Lisa Kruger was honored as the AG-ceptional Woman of the Year at the 12th Annual Northeast Community College AG-ceptional Women’s Conference on Friday at the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk. The announcement was made during a video tribute that was played during the opening session of the 12th annual conference. The video was sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America and produced by District 25 Productions.

The AG-ceptional Women’s Conference - northeast Nebraska’s premier event for women in agriculture - is typically held each November, but the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the event that was originally scheduled last fall.

“Lisa is a very strong representative for women in agriculture,” said Corinne Morris, dean of Agriculture, Math and Science at Northeast. “She has demonstrated leadership and competency in every aspect of her agricultural life - from her early involvement in FFA and livestock judging to her current position as an accomplished cattle buyer for Cargill. Her commitment to excellence is evident through her dedication and service to her family operation, her community, her profession and the industry.”

Kruger is a graduate of Northeast Community College where she earned an Associate of Science degree in Livestock Production. She was also a member of the College’s Livestock judging team under Jerome Settles. Following her graduation, she worked at the Norfolk Sale Barn and later transferred to Texas A&M University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. She received a Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Scholarship and was a member of the A&M’s Livestock judging team that earned the reserve national championship.

“I did not know for sure what I wanted to do after I graduated from (Pierce) high school, but I wanted to stay in agriculture,” Kruger said. “And I went to Northeast Community College and started there. If I wouldn’t have started at Northeast Community College, I don’t think I would have made it to Texas A & M University.”

Kruger said her time on the livestock judging teams at Northeast and Texas A & M have served her well to this day.

“I feel that judging experience prepared me for this position, even though when I was judging I had no idea this is where the road was going to take me,” Kruger said. … “After college, I knew I wanted to be in the beef business,” Kruger said. “So, I interviewed for positions in pharmaceutical sales and breed associations. IBP was a major player in the beef business and I felt this was a good place to start.”

Kruger began her illustrious career in the cattle industry in 1992 accepting the position of as scale house coordinator for cattle procurement with IBP Inc. in Luverne, Minn., followed by a move to Lexington, Neb., as scale house coordinator at a new facility. As the first female cattle buyer for IBP, Kruger then took a position in Ida Grove, IA.

In 1999, IBP sent her to Missouri to buy cattle covering three-quarters of the state and four counties in Illinois. In 2006, she began working for Cargill as a cattle buyer in Mitchell, So. Dak., where she covered the eastern third of the state and also worked in North Dakota.

Two years later, Kruger became Cargill’s plant cattle buyer in Columbus where her duties include serving as the cattle buyer representative at the company’s facility in Schuyler where she represents 10-12 cattle buyers who send cattle to the plant. In addition, one of her duties is to line up feed yard tours for beef customers and employees who have never been to a feed yard.

In 2010, Cargill presented Kruger its Cattle Procurement Bronc Davis Award named after a Cargill cattle buyer who lost his battle with colon cancer. The trophy symbolizes what Davis represented in the eyes of his peers - hard work, a positive attitude, a never give up philosophy, being innovative as well as civic minded, and maintaining a desire to help fellow employees. She was the first female to receive this award.

Marcine Moldenhauer, a former cattle buyer for Cargill and the first female cattle buyer for a major packing company, said it’s important for women like Kruger to play a role in the industry.

“We’re trying to blaze a trail for other young women who have interest in cattle, an interest in this profession. We want to make sure we lay the trail for them to have an easier path and pioneer through breaking that stigma that women can’t evaluate cattle or can’t negotiate as tough as a man,” Moldenhauer said.

Her father, Gerald Kruger, said his daughter has proved her worth in the cattle industry.

“She has been accepted very well working in a man’s world and I think she’s doing a good job of it. I don’t mind taking advice from my daughter. She knows what’s going on in the cattle market a little better than I do.”

Kruger has continued to return home to the family farm east of Pierce to help during harvest and work feeder cattle. She said that is her way to relax and get away from her cell phone. In addition, she has two horses at the farm, Baron and Rushmore, and rides regularly. Her other hobbies include tennis, golf, and bowling. She also does some photography work, senior pictures, weddings and family photos, as well as wildlife photography. She also enjoys traveling with her friends seeing the country.

Kruger has also been active in FFA. She said the organization gave her skills to step up and go after what she wanted in life.

“It also gave me the communication abilities that are needed to promote beef and be able to communicate with farmers and ranchers as well as marketing skills to negotiate with the feedlots on their cattle. As the industry has changed and things have started to rely more on people skills rather than just knowledge of cattle/beef, I believe my years in FFA helped me to make that transition.”

Kruger is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pierce. She has also served on church’s fair stand committee during the Pierce County Fair and on the live nativity committee during the holidays.

In accepting the Ag-ceptional Woman of the Year honor, Kruger told the women in attendance that agriculture is a rapidly changing industry, but with change comes opportunities.

“There’s opportunity everywhere right now in agriculture. … “I hope my story can influence you in all of your ideas and passions and don’t be afraid to take the road less traveled like I did,” she said. “Don’t let anyone tell you can’t do anything because you’re a woman or your too young or your too old, for that matter.”  

Kruger is the daughter of Gerald and Judy Kruger of Randolph. She has one sister, Michelle Meier, and her husband, John, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, and nieces, Katrina, a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Omaha majoring in engineering, and Abigail, a senior at Pierce High School, and a nephew, Alexander, a sophomore at Pierce High School.

“Lisa's story is inspiring,” Morris said. “She is a true role model for women who aspire to achieve success in agricultural careers.”

Past Northeast Community College AG-ceptional Woman Recipients
2010 - Bonnie Schulz, Battle Creek
2011 - Jan Miller, Belden
2012 - Nancy Kirkholm, Homer
2013 - Jan Frenzen, Fullerton
2014 - Dawn Winkelbauer, Norfolk
2015 - Karen Grant, Meadow Grove
2016 - Anne Meis, Elgin
2017 - Liz Doerr, Creighton
2018 - Shana Beattie, Sumner
2019 - Lisa Lunz, Wakefield



Nebraska Farm Bureau Leaders Discuss Estate and Capital Gains Taxes, Trade and Climate during Virtual Washington, D.C. Visits

Nebraska Farm Bureau’s (NEFB) agricultural leaders met with Nebraska’s congressional delegation urging them to preserve the “stepped-up” basis of the capital gains tax and maintain the current estate tax exemption. The meetings took place over two days via Zoom March 3 and 9.
 
“The largest issue with the capital gains tax is preserving the stepped-up basis. Farm Bureau has long supported the elimination of federal estate taxes and supports legislation that has been recently introduced to do just that,” said Mark McHargue, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau.
 
According to Sherry Vinton, NEFB’s first vice president, stepped-up sets the starting value of land and buildings at what the property is worth when it is inherited. If capital gains taxes were imposed at death or if the stepped-up basis were repealed, farms and ranches would be forced to pay substantial capital gains tax bills.

“My husband Chris and I bought our ranch at the bottom of the agricultural market in 1988. Today, it supports three families, our daughter Jessica’s family, and our son David’s family. The ranch has stayed the same and has the same amount of cattle. If something were to happen to Chris and me, our children would likely end up selling some of the land or take out a mortgage to pay that capital gains tax, essentially buying the ranch all over again. This ranch is a place they have worked their wholes lives. The very policy that is designed to level the playing field for small and medium businesses might put them out of business,” said Vinton.  

In the area of trade, the U.S. and China signed the U.S.-China Phase 1 Trade Agreement in Jan. 2020. China agreed to purchase more U.S. agricultural products, up to $36.5 billion in 2020 and $80 billion in total over the next two years.

“It is vitally important that President Biden and his team strongly enforce the Phase 1 Agreement and should be the first thing accomplished on our trade list. This agreement only extends to the end of 2021 so a new round of negotiations must take place and an agreement must be reached by the end of the year to get our trading relationship with China back on solid ground,” McHargue said.

Export markets are extremely important to Nebraska farmers and ranchers, with agricultural exports typically accounting for 30 percent of the state’s total receipts. Every dollar in agricultural exports generates $1.28 in economic activities such as transportation, financing, and warehousing. Nebraska’s top agricultural exports in 2019 were soybeans, beef and veal, corn, and feeds and other grains.

“It’s also important to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which will expire in July of this year. TPA will need to be reauthorized to allow for the completion of agreements currently being negotiated as well as any new agreements that might be reached. A good starting place would be agreements with the UK and EU, but we must ensure that any agreement between the parties includes agriculture and includes a science-based approached to trade rules,” McHargue said. The NEFB leaders also spoke in support of the United States joining the former Trans-Pacific Partnership now known as the CPTPP.

On the issue of climate and given the Biden administration’s focus on climate change, Farm Bureau has been actively preparing to ensure that farmers and ranchers are at the table during these discussions.

“We thank Congressman Don Bacon for being the primary co-sponsor of the Growing Climate Solutions Act and Sen. Deb Fischer for co-sponsoring the legislation. This bill establishes a process that allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to be able to provide transparency, legitimacy, and informal endorsements of third-party verifiers and technical service providers that help private landowners generate carbon credits,” McHargue said.

The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, which was founded by Farm Bureau and other organizations in February 2020, lay out a solid policy foundation for any discussion on the climate issue.  Support of voluntary and incentive-based programs along with tools and additional technical assistance for farmers, ranchers, and foresters to maximize the sequestration of carbon and the reduction of other greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience is at the heart of Farm Bureaus climate policy efforts.

NEFB also thanked Senator Fischer for reintroducing the Cattle Market Transparency Act. The bill, focused on making needed reforms to the way cattle are marketed in the U.S., largely mirrors NEFB policy passed by voting delegates last year. First, the bill seeks to establish regional mandatory minimum thresholds of negotiated cash and negotiated grid trades to enable price discovery in cattle marketing regions. It also requires USDA to create and maintain a publicly available library of marketing contracts between packers and producers in a manner that ensures confidentiality. A mandate for packers to report to USDA of the number of cattle scheduled to be delivered for processing each day for the next 14 days and require USDA to report this information daily is also included. Finally, it prohibits the USDA from using confidentiality as a justification for not reporting and makes clear that USDA must report all Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) information, and they must do so in a manner that ensures confidentiality.

“Given the changes made to American Farm Bureau (AFBF) policy, changes that largely came from the work of Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Cattle Markets Task Force and voting delegates, both NEFB and AFBF are strongly supporting Senator Fischer’s efforts,” McHargue said.

Those attending the virtual Washington, D.C. visit were:
Mark McHargue, president, NEFB – Merrick County  
Sherry Vinton, first vice president. NEFB Board – Arthur County
Katie Olsen, second vice president, NEFB Board – Holt County
Lance Atwater, youth-at-large representative, NEFB Board – Adams County
Dennis Beethe, southeast region representative, NEFB Board – Johnson County
David Grimes, south central region representative, NEFB Board – Kearney County
Hilary Maricle, ag promotion at-large representative, NEFB Board – Boone County
Jason Perdue, at-large representative, NEFB Board – York County
Kevin Peterson, central region representative, NEFB Board – Polk County
Martey Stewart, northeast region representative, NEFB Board – Dixon County



NEBRASKA SOYBEAN BOARD MEETING
March 23-24, 2021
Meeting Location: Embassy Suites, 1040 P Street, Lincoln NE 68508

Due to the limitations and following CDC guidelines and the Department of Health Services,Nebraska Soybean Board is limiting guests to attend the in-person meeting. To comply with theOpen Meeting act, please register to attend through Zoom, click below.
March 23: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwqdu-grjkiHNIlOVyB3zVrKJSZcarnA8HO
March 24: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYudu2qpzguGN20k6AnnbgCElKwACuPHSpw
See full agenda here: https://nebraskasoybeans.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Agenda-March-23-24-2021.pdf



Nebraska Beef Council March Board Meeting

The Nebraska Beef Council Board of Directors will have a meeting at the NBC office in Kearney, NE, located at 1319 Central Ave. on Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 beginning at 7:30 a.m. CDT. The NBC Board of Directors will discuss strategic planning. For more information, please contact Pam Esslinger at pam@nebeef.org.  



IANR ESTABLISHES CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL PROFITABILITY

Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education has approved the establishment of the Center for Agricultural Profitability within the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The new interdisciplinary center, which was approved March 11, will facilitate faculty research, conduct outreach related to agricultural profitability and train undergraduate and graduate students — all to support informed decision-making in agriculture through applied research and education.

The center will build on strengths present in the university’s Department of Agricultural Economics through collaboration with other research and education units within IANR and the University of Nebraska system. It aims to serve agricultural producers, agribusiness professionals and the economy in Nebraska and beyond.

“It is critical that producers have decision-making information that is current, research-based, specific and holistic, and that they have appropriate tools and procedures to analyze that information,” said Mike Boehm, NU vice president and Harlan Vice Chancellor for IANR. “The center will play a critical role in fulfilling that need.”  

The center will focus concerted effort among social science, biological and engineering disciplines to provide the research and educational programs required to keep Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers financially healthy. It will begin operating by early summer. For more information on the Department of Agricultural Economics, visit https://agecon.unl.edu.



 Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Elects 2021 Officers

The voting members of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Board of Directors elected new officers during their board meeting March 8, 2021.

The NARD Board consists of representation from each of the Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs). The board meets five times throughout the year and helps guide the association and NRDs in decision making that protects lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. The NARD Risk Pool Board governs the health insurance program for NRD employees. Since its inception in 2007, the program has held the average annual cost increases for health premium rates below 4.5 percent.

Jim Eschliman, NARD President (Ericson, Nebraska)
Jim Eschliman from the Lower Loup NRD was elected president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. He has been on the boards since 2016. Eschliman has served on the Lower Loup NRD Board 16 years, is currently vice-chairman, and has served on the program and projects committee. Eschliman also serves on his local co-op board and the Cattleman’s Beef Board. After selling his dairy cows in 2018, he considers himself retired and resides near Ericson with his wife, Deb.

Orval Gigstad, NARD Vice President (Syracuse, Nebraska)
The NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board elected Dr. Orval Gigstad from the Nemaha NRD as vice president. Gigstad has served on the Nemaha NRD Board since 1993 and the NARD Board since 1996. He also serves as chair of the National Association of Conservation Districts Northern Plains Region. Previously, Gigstad served as NARD president from 2002-2004. A practicing veterinarian for 45 years, he operates the Arbor Valley Animal Clinic in Syracuse. Gigstad and his wife Carolyn have two children, Grady and Amber.

Marty Graff, NARD Secretary-Treasurer (Ainsworth, Nebraska)
Marty Graff of the Middle Niobrara NRD was elected as secretary-treasurer of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. Graff has served on the Middle Niobrara NRD Board 26 years and on the NARD boards since 2018. He farms with his wife, Brenda, and sons near Ainsworth. Off the farm, Graff serves on the East Woodlawn Cemetery Board (Johnstown, Nebraska) and is active in the Elks Club helping with youth baseball and wrestling.

Larry Reynolds, NARD Past President (Lexington, Nebraska)
Larry Reynolds of the Tri-Basin NRD will remain on the executive committee as the NARD Board past president. He has been on the NARD boards 10 years, serving as NARD secretary-treasurer from 2014-2016, vice president from 2016-2018 and president from 2018-2020. Reynolds has been a member of the Tri-Basin NRD Board for 36 years. He served in the U.S. Air Force eight years and in the Nebraska Air National Guard 18 years. Reynolds currently farms and helps manage the family’s cow-calf operation near Lexington.

In addition to the president, vice president, secretary-treasurer and past president, the NARD Board executive committee includes Jim Meismer, Legislative Committee chair representing the Twin Platte NRD, and Jim Johnson, Information and Education Committee chair representing the South Platte NRD.

Nebraska Natural Resources Districts Managers Committee
On March 3, NRD Managers elected Paul Zillig, general manager of the Lower Platte South NRD, as chair of the Managers Committee; and Todd Siel, general manager of the Lower Republican NRD, as vice-chair of the Managers Committee.

The Managers Committee includes managers from all 23 Natural Resources Districts. The committee meets five times a year to coordinate NRD activities with state and federal agencies, conservation partners and other parties to protect Nebraska’s natural resources.



International Conference on Pig Survivability Oct. 27-28 in Omaha

The International Conference on Pig Survivability is planned for Oct. 27-28, in Omaha, Neb., at the Hilton Omaha. The conference objective is to facilitate the discussion and dissemination of the most current information relative to sow, litter, weaned pig and grow-finish mortality.

"By featuring presentations and panel discussions from industry leaders and scientific experts, we want to bring the industry together to motivate change," said Joel DeRouchey, K-State swine extension specialist. "We want attendees to walk away with a sense of urgency toward the issue of mortality and some practical ideas of what to do about it."

Jason Ross, Iowa Pork Industry Center director, said, "The conference will feature speakers from an array of swine-related businesses and organizations that will discuss relevant, take-home messages to impact swine survivability."

Confirmed speakers and topics to be addressed include:
- Dr. Lee Schulz, Iowa State University; Economics of swine mortality.
- Ron Ketchem, Swine Management Services LLC, a MetaFarms Company; Trends of U.S. swine survivability.
- Dr. Bill Christianson, Genus PIC; Trends of international swine survivability.
- Cassie Edgar, McKee, Voorhees, and Sease, PLC; Advancing technology -- regulatory, advocating, and future.
- Dr. Gustavo Pizarro, Pipestone Veterinary Services; Industry successes and failures in pre-weaning survivability.
- Dr. Chris Rademacher, Iowa State University; Industry successes and failures in post-weaning survivability.
- Dr. Karine Talbot, HyLife; Wean to finish biosecurity -- a need for change.
- Valerie Duttlinger, Summit Smart Farms; The right people for the right job.
- Dr. Sara Probst Miller, Ag Create Solutions; Effective training: what works and what does not.
- Dr. Larry Coleman, Vet Care; Do not lose the urgency.
- Dr. Justin Ransom, senior director, Sustainable Food Strategy at Tyson Foods; Social responsibility of pig survivability.
- Dr. John Deen, University of Minnesota; Sow mortality: opportunities for measurable impact.
- Dr. Kara Stewart, Purdue University; Pre-weaning mortality: opportunities for measurable impact.
- Dr. Deb Murray, New Fashion Pork; Nursery mortality: opportunities for measurable impact.
- Dr. Jim Pillen, Pillen Family Farms; Finishing mortality: opportunities for measurable impact.
- Bill Even, National Pork Board; Call to action.
- Dr. Noel Williams, Iowa Select Farms, and Mike Tokach, Kansas State University; Conference impressions: now, what should we do to capture value in academics and industry.

Numerous industry panels for interactive discussions.

To learn more about the conference, visit www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/survivability/. Registration for the conference is now open. To receive other updates from the Improving Pig Survivability project, please visit and subscribe to project updates at www.piglivability.org.

The International Conference on Pig Survivability is part of the Improving Pig Survivability project. This five-year, interdisciplinary, multi-university project is funded by the National Pork Board and FARR, aimed at reducing mortality in the U.S. swine industry by 1% or more per year of the project. The project is being organized as a collaborative effort by Iowa State University, Kansas State University and Purdue University.



EPA, Kansas, Missouri Announce Change in Fuel Requirements for Suppliers in KC Metro Region
 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the approval of the removal of the low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline requirements in the Kansas City metro area, which allows for E15 fuel to be sold in the area year-round. Both the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) worked with EPA in removing these requirements.
 
Low RVP fuel was required by state regulation as part of a federally approved plan in Kansas City to help reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions that produce ozone. Sources of VOCs include emissions from gasoline and motor vehicles. This metro area’s low RVP requirement is no longer needed with stricter national vehicle fuel and vehicle requirements. The removal of the requirement affects sales in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas; and, Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties in Missouri.
 
“The continued work by the state agencies to reduce ozone and improve air quality for the Kansas City region makes this possible,” said Acting EPA Region 7 Administrator Ed Chu. “EPA celebrates their accomplishments and is committed to continue working closely with both state agencies on air quality and other environmental issues to protect human health in Kansas City and throughout the region.”
 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, or ozone pollution, set a standard limiting the amount of ozone (O3) to be present in outdoor air. Limiting ozone pollution in the air protects human health and the environment. When those levels are exceeded, states are required to submit State Implementation Plans (SIPs) showing how they plan to reduce the levels to protect human health. The low RVP fuel requirement was one of the historic methods Kansas and Missouri used in their plans to help reduce ozone levels.
 
“KDHE wants to thank all the agricultural entities that worked with us to make this change for the Kansas City area possible,” said KDHE Deputy Secretary of Environment Leo Henning. “We also wish to thank EPA and Missouri DNR for their hard work and cooperation to get this change completed.”
 
"We are pleased that Kansas City's air quality improvements are being recognized in updated fuel regulations at the gas pump,” said MDNR Director Carol Comer. “Kansas City citizens, businesses and stakeholders are no longer burdened with an outdated fuel requirement. Remember, though, gasoline vapors do still have an impact on air quality. Stop at the Click!"
 
The accomplishment represents the culmination of collaborative efforts of EPA and state agencies to provide healthy air quality in the area.
 
“This announcement is a big step for the Kansas City metro area and a continuation of the hard work that they have done to improve air quality and address environmental issues,” said CEO of Growth Energy Emily Skor. “Allowing the year-round sale of E15 will help strengthen these clean energy efforts and give more Kansas Citians access to cleaner, more affordable fuel options. Ethanol’s environmental benefits are tangible and will help continue Kansas City’s efforts to protect human health and contribute to our country’s overall efforts to decarbonize the transportation system.”
 
The removal of low RVP fuel is supported by both the biofuels and agriculture communities in both states. It will allow the sale of E15 fuel year-round, supporting the regional renewable ethanol industry and local farmers.
 
“We thank our industry partners as well as KDHE and EPA for removing this regulation and paving the way for year-round E15 sales in the KC metro area. E15 is a cleaner burning, more cost-effective fuel that’s good for the environment and farmers, and adds fuel choice and savings for consumers,” said Kansas Corn Growers Association President Brent Rogers.
 
The States regulated the vapor pressure of gasoline sold at Kansas City Metro retail stations during the summer ozone season (June 1 to September 15) to reduce evaporative emissions from gasoline that contribute to ground-level ozone and diminish the effects of ozone-related health problems.  The Kansas City area has attained all ozone standards since 2005.
 
“We are thrilled EPA has approved removing low RVP requirements in the Kansas City metro area,” said Chairman of Renew Kansas Biofuels Association Bill Pracht. “This will allow for cleaner, cheaper, Kansas-grown fuel to be purchased year-round in Kansas City, which is great news for the metro’s air quality, consumers and the Midwest’s agriculture economy as a whole.”
 
“This is great news for drivers in Kansas City,” said Missouri Corn Growers Association President Jay Fischer. “We appreciate the efforts of EPA, our partners, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in providing sound research to open the door for E15 in the Kansas City area. This decision allows drivers to fill up with a safe, cost-effective, higher octane, renewable fuel while helping improve air quality in the region.”
 
“The EPA’s announcement is welcome news for Missouri motorists. E15 will drive fuel savings and help Kansas City residents breathe easier,” says Missouri Renewable Fuels Association President Steve Murphy. “Biofuels, including E15, are the fastest, most cost-effective way to reduce air pollution for many cities, and we applaud EPA for providing this opportunity to drivers in the Kansas City area.”
 
Background
     In 1971, the Kansas City area was determined by EPA to be a non-attainment area for ozone under the Clean Air Act (CAA). As a result, both Kansas and Missouri SIPs were approved by EPA to assist the city in attaining the NAAQS for ozone.
    The federal CAA requires states to develop and maintain a SIP that provides the state's air pollution control strategy for meeting NAAQS requirements. Both Kansas and Missouri continue to implement the rest of their SIPs today for Kansas City.
    E15 is gasoline containing 15% ethanol. It is also marketed as Unleaded 88.



Growth Energy Welcomes Year-Round E15 in Kansas City

Today, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement allowing E15 fuel to be sold in the area year-round:

“This announcement is a big step for the Kansas City metro area and a continuation of the hard work that they have done to improve air quality and address environmental issues,” said Skor. “Allowing the year-round sale of E15 will help strengthen these clean energy efforts and give more Kansas Citians access to cleaner, more affordable fuel options. A recent report found that nationwide, switching from E10 to E15 would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 20 million tons per year. Ethanol’s environmental benefits are tangible and will help continue Kansas City’s efforts to protect human health and contribute to our country’s overall efforts to decarbonize the transportation system.”

EPA approved the removal of the low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline requirements in the Kansas City metro area, allowing for E15 fuel to be sold in the area year-round. The Kansas City metropolitan area has dramatically improved its air quality, so much so that modification of the legacy vapor pressure limits could be re-evaluated by both the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Growth Energy has supported the efforts of our Kansas and Missouri members and stakeholders who have worked over the last three years to modify the requirements.  



ACE Welcomes EPA Allowing Retailers to Sell E15 Year-Round in Kansas City Metro Region

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President and Market Development Director Ron Lamberty today welcomed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement that the Agency has approved of the removal of the low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline requirements in the Kansas City metro area, which now allows for E15 fuel to be sold in the area year-round. Lamberty issued the statement below following this news:

“This is good news for consumers, who could soon see cleaner, higher octane unleaded E15 gasoline as the lowest price gas at the pump. It can be even better news for retailers, who have seen marketers in other parts of the country increase customer counts, volumes, and profits by adding E15 to their fuel slate. Right now, low ethanol prices and high RIN credit values make E15 the lowest cost gasoline at the rack, and whether they sell it as UnleadedE15, Unleaded88, or something else, retailers can offer the lowest price on the street and still earn some extra margin.

“Contrary to what they’ve been told for a decade, it's also very likely most retailer’s current equipment is compatible with E15. They can check using ACE’s Flex Check tool, and if EPA’s recent proposed E15 labeling and underground storage tank compatibility rule is finalized, it will be even easier for station owners to prove this to be true.

“Year-round E15 adoption in the Kansas City metro gives consumers the ability to use a cleaner fuel as the world opens back up and people get back on the roads. Clean air doesn’t have to be more expensive or require everyone to buy new cars. Using more ethanol helps improve air quality and supports clean energy efforts.”

EPA’s proposed rule references ACE’s Flex Check E15 compatibility tool as a place station owners can get an idea how compatible their station might be. ACE encourages retailers to check out the equipment at their own station at flexfuelforward.com, and encourages retailers and ethanol advocates alike to comment on EPA’s proposed rule.



Agricultural Organizations Remind Appropriators to Maintain Export Market Development Funding

American farmers and rural businesses need continued investment in the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program to make up for lost export opportunities in the pandemic and to fight foreign competition. That is the message the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports sent March 9, 2021, in letters to House and Senate Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee leaders signed by 130 agricultural organizations.

MAP and FMD are cost-share export market development programs funded in the 2018 Farm Bill and administered by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

“Studies show these public-private programs provide a rate of return that far exceeds their public expense,” said Robbie Minnich, Coalition Chair and Senior Government Relations Representative at National Cotton Council. “Our organizations are asking the leadership to provide $255 million for Agricultural Trade Promotion and Facilitation apportioned under the Farm Bill, and from that amount MAP should receive at least $200 million and the FMD program receive at least $34.5 million.”

The letters state that MAP and FMD industry participants now provide 73% or total funding. Yet many of the co-signing organizations expect intense foreign export competition as markets reopen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Union, for example, announced in December 2020 that it will allocate the equivalent of $222 million to promote agri-food products in China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico.

“We finally see new opportunities to start overcoming two and a half years of trade conflict and pandemic restrictions,” Minnich said. “fully funded export programs are critical to help U.S. farmers, ranchers and food exporters keep pace with the rest of the world’s exporting countries.”

For more information about the MAP and FMD programs and their success, visit http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs.asp. For more information about how export market development programs benefit American agriculture, visit www.AgExportCount.com.



National Grain and Feed Foundation launches student scholarship

The National Grain and Feed Foundation announced today that it has launched a scholarship in partnership with the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) student group.

The Foundation will provide support to MANRRS student members who are engaged in undergraduate or graduate studies in the grain, feed or processing industry or a closely related field at an accredited college or university or to student members pursuing a degree from a technical school focusing on grain handling, feed manufacturing or grain processing facility operations.

“Through the Foundation’s mission to promote education and awareness of our industry, we are pleased to engage young people to make a career in agriculture and agribusiness as well as to encourage diversity and foster inclusive environments within our industry,” said Greg Beck, senior vice president of the grain division at CGB Enterprises Inc., and chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees. “We are honored to have this opportunity to support MANRRS students as they pursue careers in agriculture and thankful to the generous Foundation donors whose contributions have made this possible. I look forward to partnering with MANRRS to support students as they achieve their goals and contribute to the highest standards of education pertinent to the grain, feed and processing industry.”

MANRRS is a national society established in 1989 that welcomes membership of people of all racial and ethnic groups participating in agricultural and related science careers, with a focus on providing networks to support professional development of minorities.

Established in 1965, the National Grain and Feed Foundation supports public education and research projects that benefit the grain, feed and processing industry, enhance the industry’s presence to the public, and positions it for future growth. The Foundation is funded entirely by voluntary corporate and individual contributions.