Friday March 19 Cattle on Feed + Ag News

 Celebrate Nebraska Agriculture! National Ag Week is March 21-27
Steve Wellman, Director, Nebraska Department of Agriculture

Agriculture is more than Nebraska's number one industry. It's the heart and soul of Nebraska and cause for celebration! Every year during National Ag Week, we celebrate agriculture and thank the people behind the food, feed and fuel we depend on every day. This year, National Ag Week is March 21-27.

If we've learned anything in the ag industry these past two years, we've learned that life certainly has a way of handing us many unexpected challenges and opportunities. Even with our best efforts of planning, we sometimes deal with unexpected events and even unprecedented ones. Who would have predicted historic flooding, an irrigation tunnel collapse and a world health pandemic all within a two-year span?

One thing we know for certain. Nebraska agriculture has always responded positively when needed most. The state's farmers, ranchers, agri-businesses and ag organizations have risen to the task time and time again. Such was the case with Nebraska's historic flooding in 2019 and has been the case since the onset of COVID-19.

Farmers and ranchers across the state felt the rippling effects of COVID-19 from the start as the food industry was one of the hardest hit. The constant positive for Nebraska, is the persistent response and productivity driven by our farmers and ranchers. Once again, Nebraska agriculture delivered an abundant, safe, healthy and sustainable supply of food, feed and fuel for us and for consumers around the world. Productivity and persistence show in everything that we do and in every top national ranking we achieve.

Nebraska ranks first in the nation for commercial cattle slaughter (2020) and second in the nation for just about every other aspect of cattle and beef production: beef and veal exports (2020); all cattle and calves (Jan. 1, 2021); all cattle on feed (Jan. 1, 2021); and commercial red meat production (2020).

The top national rankings start with beef but go much further. Nebraska is ranked first in Great Northern bean production (2020) and first in popcorn production, too (2017, Census of Agriculture). Nebraska also has a reliable supply of corn (third in the nation--2020) and soybeans (fifth in the nation--2020) for livestock feed and renewable fuels, like ethanol where Nebraska ranks second in the nation for production (2020). Our grain and livestock production places us number three in total ag production value in the U.S. These rankings and more make Nebraska agriculture worth celebrating.

Agriculture continues to be Nebraska's largest economic driver and job creator by supporting one out of four jobs plus contributing more than $21.4 billion a year to the state's economy in 2019. Ag exports, $5.8 billion of that number, are only part of the story. Every dollar in ag exports generates $1.28 in economic activities such as transportation, finance, warehousing and production.

Agriculture touches everyone's lives and connects all of us somehow. While we cannot predict the details of what is in store for the industry in the future, we can set our priorities and expectations to move forward. Nebraska agriculture will continue to grow and add value by expanding livestock production, attracting investments and business expansions, and growing international trade.

Since Nebraska farmers and ranchers produce more food than we use, we need to continue to help expand our domestic and international markets for their products. Their safe, high quality food products fill our plates and fuel tanks here and around the world.

Thank you for letting me use National Ag Week as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on Nebraska agriculture. During this week and always, remember to thank the farmers, ranchers and ag industry for providing us with the food, feed and fuel that we use every day.



NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 4%

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.61 million cattle on feed on March 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 4% from last year. Placements during February totaled 440,000 head, down 3% from 2020. Fed cattle marketings for the month of February totaled 430,000 head, up 1% from last year. Other disappearance during February totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED

 Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 630,000 head on March 1, 2021, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was up 2% from February, but down 6% from March 2020. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 540,000 head on feed, down 4% from last month and down 14% from last March. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,170,000 head, down 1% from last month and down 10% from a year ago.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during February totaled 110,000 head, unchanged from January but up 2% from February 2020. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 32,000 head, down 47% from January and down 54% from last February. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 142,000 head, down 16% from January and down 20% from a year ago.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during February totaled 98,000 head, unchanged from January but down 8% from February 2020. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 54,000 head, up 10% from January but down 32% from last February. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 152,000 head, up 3% from January but down 18% from a year ago. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 5,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on March 1, 2021. The inventory was 2 percent above March 1, 2020. This is the second highest March 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

On Feed by State     (1,000 hd  -  % March 1 '20)
Colorado .......:                 1,100          105                 
Iowa .............:                   630              94                 
Kansas ..........:                 2,470          104                  
Nebraska ......:                 2,610          104                  
Texas ............:                 2,870          100                  

Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.68 million head, 2 percent below 2020. Net placements were 1.63 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 335,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 295,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 465,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 409,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 125,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 55,000 head.

Placements by State  (1,000 hd  -  % Feb '20)
Colorado .......:                   165           103                  
Iowa .............:                    110           102                  
Kansas ..........:                    375            96                  
Nebraska ......:                    440            97                  
Texas ............:                    310            97                   

Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.73 million head, 2 percent below 2020. Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during February, unchanged from 2020.

Marketings by State  (1,000 hd  -  % Feb '20)
Colorado .......:                 180            88                  
Iowa .............:                   98            92                  
Kansas ..........:                  415           104               
Nebraska ......:                  430           101               
Texas ............:                  335            92                



Nebraska Farm Bureau Tells EPA Glyphosate is Vital to Agriculture

Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) delivered a message to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that glyphosate, with its decades of data backing its effectiveness and safety, should be reregistered as a crop protection product. In comments submitted to the agency on their draft biological evaluation for glyphosate, NEFB underscored how important the product is to Nebraska farmers and ranchers.

Nebraska Farm Bureau stressed that making glyphosate unavailable would unquestionably compromise the rapid growth of conservation-based no-till soil practices. The 2017 Census of Agriculture revealed no-till farming in Nebraska as a preferred conservation management practice in 2017 at 10.25 million acres, up nearly 1 million acres since 2012.

“No-till conservation is enabled by using glyphosate, and these practices help to conserve soil, preserve and increase nutrients, improve water quality, trap excess carbon in the soil, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Without access to effective weed management tools, farmers would be limited in their abilities to improve soil health and continue being good stewards of the land,” Mark McHargue president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau said.

NEFB estimates, that in Nebraska, glyphosate was the most used crop protection product on corn and soybeans in 2020, according to the 2018 application data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Any effort by EPA to make glyphosate unavailable would directly and negatively affect thousands of our members, increasing their costs of production, potentially reducing yields, and harming their profitability. NEFB strongly supports the continued use of glyphosate and urges the agency not to prohibit or restrict its availability and use,” McHargue said.



Extension webinar to cover USDA NASS hog inventory reports

An upcoming Nebraska Extension webinar will provide an in-depth look at hog inventory reports produced by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. It will be held Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m.

The quarterly reports detail the inventory of breeding and marketing hogs and the future supply of market hogs. The webinar will cover what is included in the report and how producers can use the data to set production and marketing strategies.

It will be presented by Nick Streff, director of the USDA NASS northern Plains Regional Field Office in Lincoln. Streff oversees data collection, analysis and publication of NASS estimates for North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. He will be joined by Elliott Dennis, assistant professor of livestock marketing in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Economics.

Streff and Dennis will present a similar webinar, covering NASS cattle reports, on April 29.

The webinars will be presented as part of the Agricultural Economics Extension Farm and Ranch Management weekly series.

Registration is free at farm.unl.edu/webinars.




NE Corn Board to Meet

The Nebraska Corn Board will hold its next meeting Tuesday, March 30 and Wednesday, March 31 at The Embassy Suites Lincoln, 1040 P Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Board will address regular board business. The meeting is open to the public and will provide an opportunity for public discussion. A copy of the agenda is available by writing to the Nebraska Corn Board, PO Box 95107, Lincoln, NE 68509, sending an email to nikki.bentzinger@nebraska.gov or by calling 402/471-2676.



NDA REMINDS PESTICIDE APPLICATORS TO RECERTIFY BY APRIL 15 DEADLINE

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) would like to remind pesticide applicators who received a special extension to their applicator license in May 2020 due to the pandemic, that they must complete recertification training before April 15 in order to retain their licenses.

The pandemic forced the cancellation of many in-person training sessions for pesticide applicators, but they can work through their training requirements with online opportunities and in-person events through the University of Nebraska Extension Office and Pearson VUE.

“Pesticide applicators fill an important need in the agriculture industry,” said NDA Director Steve Wellman. “We’d like to remind those applicators to make sure to complete their recertification training by April 15.”

Commercial/Non-Commercial Recertification and Initial Training session through Pesticide Safety Education Program is open for registration at pested.unl.edu.

Several Pearson VUE testing sites are open. A list of locations in Nebraska can be found at nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/pearson_vue_testing.html. Appointments are scheduled through Pearson VUE.

Private Applicator in-person trainings are being hosted at local county extension offices. Contact your local extension office for more information. Training is still being offered online at pested.unl.edu or you may opt out of training by passing the Private Applicator exam available at an in-person testing session.

Learn more about the pesticide recertification program and find certification training on NDA’s website at nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/applicator_testing.html.



Reynolds signs "Meat on the Table Month" Proclamation

Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds proclaimed April as “Meat on the Table Month.” During this time, she encourages Iowans to support the livestock industry through meat consumption and purchases.

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program, alongside beef producers and other industry leaders, appreciate the state’s initiative to promote our meat products. The livestock industry takes great pride in caring for its animals. Beef producers invest in herd development, health and nutrition planning, and best management practices to ensure they provide consumers with a high-quality source of protein.  

We encourage consumers to join us in learning about beef production and most importantly, understanding how beef gets from pasture to plate. Beef producers collectively work to meet consumers in the marketplace by listening to their concerns, addressing questions about how cattle are raised, and even opening up their farms and ranches for tours. As the ultimate “upcyclers,” cattle turn otherwise unusable material into a high-value product and play an important role as part of the biogenic carbon cycle.

As Iowans embark on their journey to explore the benefits of beef and other meat products, consider purchasing beef in a showing of solidarity for local restaurants, food service, and fellow Iowa beef producers. The Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program provides resources online that will make the next month, and beyond, exciting for your taste buds.

As always, thank you for supporting your local farm families by purchasing beef and other meat products.



IFBF on Reynold's Meat on the Table Month proclamation
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Craig Hill:

“Iowa Farm Bureau appreciates Governor Reynold’s support for the hardworking men and women across the supply chain who are helping put high-quality, real meat proteins on our plates through her Meat on the Table Month proclamation. Animal proteins are a natural source of essential vitamins like B12, which helps regulate the body’s nervous system and promotes brain function in young children. It’s also a prime source of zinc, a critical mineral that supports immune function.

We work every day to raise meat sustainably and with compassionate care. In fact, all of agriculture accounts for around 10 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By contrast, transportation accounts for 28 percent of GHG emissions and electricity accounts for nearly 27 percent. But we’re not done. With technology available today, U.S. agriculture is on a trajectory to reduce its GHG emissions by 50 percent.

We hope Iowans everywhere help celebrate Meat on the Table Month in April and every day.”



Top 10 Announced for Iowa's Best Burger Contest

Iowans submitted nominations between February 15 – March 15 to kick off the quest to find the best burger in Iowa. Nominations were accepted online by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2021 Top Ten restaurants. The restaurants making the Top Ten list (in alphabetical order) include:
Arty's Ice Cream & Grill, Wilton; Bambino's, Ossian; #DutchFix, Pella; Fishback & Stephenson Cider House, Fairfield; Foodie Garage Eatery, Dubuque; Moo’s BBQ, Newton; Murph’s Creamery & Grill, Toledo; Saucy Focaccia, Cedar Rapids; The Map Room, Cedar Rapids; and Troy’s Bar and Grill, Earling.

To qualify, the burger must be a 100% real beef patty served on a bun or bread product. Burgers may include any combination of condiments, sauces, cheese or toppings.

“After a challenging year for Iowa’s restaurant industry, it was refreshing to see Iowans rally behind their favorite local burger joint,” comments Kylie Peterson, Director of Marketing for the Iowa Beef Industry Council. “In total, we had more than 200 towns across Iowa nominated which proves that there are a lot of great tasting burgers all across the state.”

Seven of the Top Ten restaurants are new qualifiers. Returning contestants include Moo’s BBQ, Saucy Focaccia, and Troy’s Bar and Grill.

The quest for the winner of the Iowa’s Best Burger will now begin. All Top Ten restaurants will be visited by a panel of anonymous judges who will evaluate the burgers based on taste, appearance, and proper doneness (160 degrees Fahrenheit). The judges’ scores and comments will be accumulated and the winner will be announced on May 3 to kick off May Beef Month.

“This year’s Top Ten restaurants are award-winning worthy,” says Peterson. “But they are only a few of the many restaurants in Iowa that do an outstanding job of promoting and serving our beef products to their customers on behalf of Iowa’s beef farmers. With spring upon us, I challenge Iowans to rally their support behind restaurant owners and Iowa’s beef farmers by choosing to order a beef burger one additional time per week.”

To learn more about the contest and the Top Ten restaurants, including addresses and hours, visit www.iabeef.org.



USDA and CFIA Establish Protocol to Minimize Trade Disruptions in the Event of an ASF Detection in Feral Swine

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have developed a protocol to help ensure bilateral trade will continue if African swine fever (ASF) is detected in feral swine in either country, while still absent from domestic swine.

The intent of the protocol is to protect swine populations in both countries during an outbreak of ASF in feral swine, while minimizing impacts on the trade of live swine, swine products, and other swine commodities. Upon an ASF feral swine detection, all trade between both countries would initially stop. Then, according to the protocol, trade would resume in three, progressive phases with increasingly reduced restrictions on live swine, swine germplasm, and untreated swine commodities.

“Continuing trade with Canada in the event of a feral African swine fever detection is important to our stakeholders, and this trade protocol provides the necessary guidance to minimize the impact to the swine industry,” USDA Chief Veterinarian Dr. Burke Healey said. “This collaborative effort uses a science-based approach to ensure trade between both countries resumes as quickly as possible.”

How quickly the U.S. and Canada establish initial control areas, initiate surveillance/case findings and removal in feral swine, and start surveillance in captive swine, will determine when they enter phase two of the protocol. During the third and final phase, trade restrictions are reduced to the boundaries of the established control area.

APHIS and CFIA are continuing to work with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that both countries have the processes and procedures in place to fully implement the protocol.

USDA continues to work with a wide range of partners including the swine industry, our producers, other government agencies and neighboring countries to keep ASF out of North America. At the same time, we have response plans in place and incident management teams ready to deploy in case ASF does reach the United States. More information on ASF, partner resources, and additional resources for producers and veterinarians are available on the APHIS ASF webpage https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/swine-disease-information/african-swine-fever/seminar/african-swine-fever.



USDA Seeks Input on Potential Regulatory Oversight for Certain Animals Developed Using Genetic Engineering

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reopening the public review and comment period for an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) regarding whether to establish regulations for the movement of certain animals modified or developed using genetic engineering.

On December 28, 2020, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the availability of the ANPR for a 60-day public review and comment period, which closed on February 26, 2021. APHIS and FSIS are reopening the comment period for 60 days to allow interested persons more time to prepare and submit comments.

Under the contemplated regulatory framework, USDA would use the authorities granted to the Department through the Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA), the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) to evaluate organisms developed using genetic engineering.

The ANPR can be accessed now on the News page of the APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services website. This notice may be viewed in the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted beginning Monday, March 8, through May 7, 2021, our online comment portal:  https://www.regulations.gov/docket/APHIS-2020-0079/document.



NIAA 2021 Annual Conference Speakers Announced
 
The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) has introduced the keynote speaker lineup for their Annual Conference, Exploring Sustainability in Animal Agriculture – A Comprehensive Approach. The virtual event will convene April 21-April 23, 2021.  

The 2021 conference theme and agenda provide the opportunity to engage with visionary leaders as, together, we explore their insights and expertise. The annual conference, which overlaps Earth Day on April 22, will feature industry leaders and explore a holistic view of sustainability. As animal agriculture leaders throughout the industry seek to better understand current agriculture and food system issues affecting their sector of today’s food system, the NIAA Annual Conference provides a forum to learn, collaborate and act.

“Whether you are new to conversations about holistic sustainability in animal agriculture or you’re more seasoned, this year’s Annual Conference is designed to lean in on the environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability while inspiring and challenging all of us to do better,” shared planning team and board member Chelsea Good.

Keynote speakers for Annual Conference include:  
    Charlie Arnot, The Center for Food Integrity
    Erin Fitzgerald, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action
    Mary Matlock, University of Arkansas
    Ernie Shea, Solutions from the Land

In addition to the keynote speakers, the conference will also feature economic, environment and social issue panelists. For the first time since their work in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, former chief agriculture negotiators, Ambassadors Gregg Doud and Darci Vetter, will kick off these discussions and engage in a conversation to share their learnings and insights as animal agriculture leaders plan for the future of global trade.

Like many organizations hosting events, NIAA leaders have opted to host this event virtually. “The health and well-being of our members and stakeholders were the cornerstone of our decision to host the event virtually. It is our hope that our 11th Annual Antibiotic Symposium will be hosted in-person, November 2-4, 2021 in Kansas City,” said Kevin Maher, Chairman of the Board.  

To review the full agenda and register for annual conference, visit www.AnimalAgriculture.org.