Monday March 15 Ag News

 Open house lends opportunity for public to ask questions, get answers

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) staff and board members are inviting the public to an Open House Public Hearing next week to learn about and discuss proposed changes to its groundwater management area in portions of Cuming, Colfax, and Dodge Counties.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 25, at the Nielsen Center at 200 Anna Stalp Avenue in West Point from 5-7 p.m.

Brian Bruckner, LENRD assistant manager, said the open house format provides the opportunity for a constructive dialogue between interested parties or stakeholders and staff and board members which isn’t offered at a traditional public hearing.

“At a traditional public hearing, the elected body is typically seated at the front of the room, and those who want to provide verbal feedback are provided the opportunity to address them.  That opportunity will also exist at this event, but stakeholders can also engage in separate conversations with elected officials and staff members to relay their point of view, and if necessary, receive an answer to a specific question or concern,” Bruckner said.

“The open house format helps to ease the tension by providing a setting that encourages participation and allows for a meaningful exchange of information that is relevant to an issue.    We can diffuse some of that tension by addressing that concern with more information or providing data to help them understand the issue a little better,” Bruckner added.

At the open house, staff members will be manning display tables that showcase information related to the proposed changes to the groundwater management area.  Board and staff members will be available and will be ready to engage in one-on-one conversations about the proposed changes.

Members of the public will be given the opportunity to provide written or oral feedback to the district, and both forms of testimony carry equal weight at the hearing.  A court reporter will be present and will be creating an official record of the oral comments that are received.  Those comments will be transcribed and provided in written form to the district.

Writing materials will also be provided to allow stakeholders who wish to provide feedback on the proposed changes in written form.  The written testimony and the transcription of the oral comments will be provided to the Board of Directors, at a later date, and they will review the testimony prior to taking any additional action.

“We fully recognize that these proposed changes would require some adaptation from farm operations to comply with the Phase 2 area requirements, and this hearing will provide growers with the opportunity to inform the LENRD on that process.  In addition, the community of Dodge is dealing with water quality issues for groundwater nitrate. We’re hopeful that we get some response from those residents as well,” Bruckner said.

“This open house public hearing is part of the formal process of delineation of a management area and we’re hoping that we get good attendance and engagement from the public.  For anyone who is concerned about attending this event due to COVID-19 concerns, we have selected the Nielsen Community Center due to our ability to host a public event in a large venue that should allow for sufficient social distancing and health protection measures,” he said.

For anyone who is unable to attend, please remember that you can provide written testimony to the LENRD in advance of this event, and written testimony will be received up to the scheduled 7 p.m. completion.  Those comments could be emailed to the district by sending them to lenrd@lenrd.org, or by U.S. Mail by mailing them to: Lower Elkhorn NRD, 1508 Square Turn Boulevard, Norfolk, NE 68701

Open House Public Hearing
Thursday, March 25 | 5-7 p.m.
Nielsen Center in West Point, NE

A map of the proposed Phase 2 Groundwater Management Area can be found on the LENRD website at www.lenrd.org or attached to this article.



NEBRASKA AG LAND VALUES INCREASE FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

The value of agricultural land in Nebraska increased by an average of 6% over the prior year, to a statewide average of $2,895 per acre, according to the preliminary findings of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 2021 Farm Real Estate Market Survey. This marks the second consecutive year that agricultural land in the state has experienced an increase in average market value.

Land industry professionals who responded to the survey attributed the rise in Nebraska farm real estate values to current interest rate levels, crop prices and COVID-19 disaster assistance payments provided to operators across the state. These factors provided stability to the industry in the face of an economic shutdown and disruptions of supply chains.

“During periods of economic uncertainty, monitoring Nebraska farm and ranch real estate remains important to understanding how financial forces are impacting agricultural land markets across the state,” said Jim Jansen, an extension educator who co-authored the survey and report with Jeffrey Stokes, a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics.

The preliminary report found that center pivot-irrigated cropland estimated values rose by about 8% across the state. Dryland cropland values rose by about 6%. Survey participants noted higher crop prices as a major force leading to higher cropland values across the state. Improvements in grazing land and hayland market values range about 3% to 5% higher than the prior year.

Survey results also revealed that rental rates for cropland and grazing land in the state have increased by an average of about 5% to 7% for cropland, while rates for pasture and cow-calf pairs saw an average increase between about 3% and 7%. Survey participants also reported that the late season runup in crop prices were a major factor leading to higher cash rental rates in 2021.

The Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey is an annual survey of land professionals, including appraisers, farm and ranch managers and agricultural bankers, conducted by the Department of Agricultural Economics. Results from the survey are divided by land class and agricultural statistic district. Land values and rental rates presented in the report are averages of survey participants’ responses by district. Actual land values and rental rates may vary depending upon the quality of the parcel and local market for an area. Preliminary land values and rental rates are subject to change as additional surveys are returned.

The preliminary report was released in the Department of Agricultural Economics’ weekly Cornhusker Economics newsletter. Its findings will be discussed in a webinar at noon March 18. To register for the webinar and read the report, visit https://agecon.unl.edu/realestate. Final results from the survey are expected to be published in June.



Sire Selection
Connor Biehler, NE Beef Systems Asst. Extension Educator

Spring sale season in the Great Plains is in full swing. This is the time of year where seedstock producers get to showcase their programs progeny, and buyers can acquire bull power for the upcoming breeding season. The primary purpose of buying bulls is to improve herd genetics through an outside seedstock producers’ breeding program. Since nearly all herd improvements overtime are a deliberate effort through purchased bulls or modern technologies such as artificial insemination, genetics are instilled in a herd through new bulls. Making proper selection of bulls a focal decision for cow-calf operators.

Finding the correct bull is the quickest way to improving a commercial herd. The process of purchasing a new bull should begin prior to pulling a trailer to a local sale and picking through the catalog while eating the provided meal. It requires a systematic approach to identify genetic priorities that will enhance genetic progress within the herd. Following are factors that should be considered when selecting the next sire.
-    Begin with the end in mind by establishing specific production goals and select sires that complement the needs of your cow herd and work toward meeting your personal marketing goals.
-    Do your homework to evaluate Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) performance pedigrees and accuracy of the data.  
-    Never purchase a bull without a breeding soundness exam (BSE) or knowing the terms and conditions of purchasing a sire. (ex. Seller retains part interest in bull) While not commonly a part of BSE, testing cattle for trichomoniasis could be done at the same time.
-    Sires that increase fertility, number of calves born alive, add growth while improving the maternal strength of cows should be considered a sound investment.

Do NOT hone in on one specific trait or EPD. Remain cognizant of a wide variety of production traits to be successful in marketing weaned calves or retaining through finishing. Traits such as milk, carcass, birth, weaning, and yearling weight should be prioritized to a specific marketing program, but it is important to remember that adding too much of one trait can negatively affect other traits. A couple of examples of this would be pushing terminal traits and decreasing fertility and structural soundness or focusing on breeding low birth weight calves that then lack growth through maturity and their terminal end point.  

My Grandfather has always said “Quality remains long after the price is forgotten” and this should be a consideration when purchasing bulls. An inexpensive bull that does not excel in specific traits of importance and is purchased with the sole purpose of getting cows bred likely will not make your herd more profitable. However, over-spending on a bull that will not return profit is just as important of a decision to make. Therefore, it is important to find a middle ground on purchasing bulls that will return profit while meeting your needs as a sire. The key to procuring a strong bull battery is balance, in other words “optimize not maximize.”

For more information on sire selection reach me at my office (402)624-8007 or my cell (402)413-8557 or follow my twitter page @BigRedBeefTalk for more information on Nebraska Beef Extension.



ICON: Brand reform bill LACKS enforceability, accountability, equity.

A bill to reform Nebraska's Brand Act, and allow other forms of livestock identification, is on the floor of the Legislature, but it must be amended before it advances.

LB 572 advanced March 4 from the Legislature’s Ag Committee and is now the committee’s priority bill.

Much of this bill now appears to be a result of future desires and agendas, promoted within the Nebraska Brand Committee, even though the committee officially testified in a neutral position.

“The Brand Committee was involved in drafting this bill, and no producer group has demanded that these provisions be added," ICON Director Don V. Cain, Jr. said.  

The Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska have two overriding concerns with the bill in its current form.

1.      The bill allows the use of radio frequency identification tags (aka non-visual identifiers,) but contains NO penalties for removing, damaging, or replacing the identification tags. In contrast, state law sets out clear penalties for altering hot brands. Penalties must be enforced for the alteration of RFID tags too. Independent inspection, verification and enforcement are core requirements of an effective livestock ownership verification system, ICON says.

Cain notes that Easterday Ranches in the northwestern United States is accused of swindling Tyson Fresh Meats for many years by inventing 200,000 head of fictitious cattle, under a sloppy ID verification system.  “We can’t have that happen in Nebraska, period,” he said.

2.      The reform bill should also require the Legislature to approve the Governor’s appointments to the Nebraska Brand Commission before they become final. As it now stands, the Governor appoints members of the Brand Commission without further approval. The process of appointment must be transparent and accountable because Brand Commission members represent all types of livestock owners in all areas of the state.

Also, an amendment (AM 484) to LB 572 has been introduced on the floor of the Legislature to eliminate “registered feedyard” status, a designation that applies to 100 or so of Nebraska’s largest feedyards. Registered feedyards pay lower inspection fees. Eliminating registered feedyard status would restore a level playing field among cattle owners when it comes to fees for ID inspections, renewals and services.

ICON still strongly supports LB614 and continues this support as AM484 to LB572 and urges cattle owners to call the Senators on the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee.



Celebrating and Growing Nebraska Agriculture
Governor Pete Ricketts

From March 21-27, 2021 we’ll celebrate National Agriculture Week in Nebraska.  It’s a great opportunity to highlight the hard work our farmers and ranchers do to produce high-quality and affordable food.  The crops and livestock they raise feed families in our state, across the nation, and around the world.

Agriculture is our number one industry.  It adds more than $21 billion to our state’s economy each year.  Nebraska’s cash receipts from agricultural commodities are greater than ag receipts in Florida, Colorado, and New York combined.  On a per capita basis, we generate more revenue from agricultural commodities than any other state.

Even with the global pandemic, 2020 was a strong year for U.S. corn and soybean exports.  Soybean exports were up 38% over 2019, and corn exports were up 20%.  American wheat exports in 2020 also topped 2019’s totals.  The outlook is good for ag export growth to continue.  Last month, the USDA forecasted the value of U.S. ag exports to hit record highs in 2021 (federal fiscal year).

While Nebraska beef exports in 2020 were down slightly (4%) compared to 2019, we fared better than the national average.  This allowed us to climb past Texas to regain our #2 ranking among beef exporting states.  We also gained market share in the European Union.  Nebraska now supplies 62.6% of beef exports to the EU.

Activists like PETA are pushing a radical anti-agricultural agenda aimed at hurting states like Nebraska.  They’re using false stereotypes of livestock agriculture to gain control over how Americans eat, drink, and make a living.  While other states may abandon agriculture to appease radical environmentalists, the State of Nebraska will continue our proud and unwavering support of livestock producers.

Nebraska is the Beef State.  The livestock industry is a prominent part of our state’s history and culture.  Ranchers and feedlot owners in Nebraska are committed to quality care of the land, the water, and their animals.  Beef is one of the most nutritionally dense foods we have, and it’s a great part of a healthy diet.  To counter ill-informed attacks on animal agriculture, I’m declaring March 20th as “Meat on the Menu Day” in Nebraska.  I encourage Nebraskans to fire up the grill or visit their favorite steakhouse on Saturday.  Let’s dine on the fine Nebraska beef, pork, chicken, or lamb raised in our state to support our family farmers and ranchers.

We’re continuing to grow Nebraska by taking the crops raised here and adding value to them through innovative manufacturing processes.  Promoting biofuels is an important part of supporting value-added agriculture in our state.  Ethanol saves drivers money at the pump so that they can keep more money in their wallet.  Filling up with ethanol reduces toxic emissions, which leads to cleaner air.  Ethanol also creates opportunities for Nebraska’s farmers—35% of the corn grown in our state goes to our ethanol industry.

In June 2019, the State launched an EPA-approved pilot program to study the use of locally sourced E30 biofuel in conventional state-owned vehicles.  We wanted to find out if the vehicles could run on E30 without maintenance problems or any decrease in performance.  Teammates in the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services (DAS) outfitted 40 State vehicles with onboard vehicle tracking systems to capture data on vehicle performance.  The Nebraska State Patrol also participated in the study with 10 patrol vehicles.  They monitored those vehicles for an entire year.  At the end of the evaluation period, DAS submitted the data to engineers at UNL for analysis.

Earlier this month, I joined the Nebraska Ethanol Board and a professor from UNL to announce the groundbreaking results of the study.  The results clearly demonstrated that E30 is a safe and reliable fuel for conventional vehicles.  Having proof of its effectiveness will be a great benefit as we advocate for increasing the volume of ethanol in our nation’s fuel supply.

While the State of Nebraska stands behind our ag producers, the Biden Administration is pursuing policies that threaten the future of agriculture in America.  I am especially troubled by President Biden’s January 27th executive order on the climate.  It sets a goal of restricting “at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.”  Attaining this goal would require far-reaching federal interventions to regulate the use of land and natural resources.  While purporting to encourage conservation, this sort of government interference would hurt agriculture by taking away opportunities for our ag families to grow their operations.

Our farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists.  They’re innovators in managing the soil, stewarding our abundant water resources, and enriching animal habitats on their lands.  Earlier this month, US News & World Report ranked Nebraska as the sixth-best state in the category of “Natural Environment” due to the great quality of our air and water.  By contrast, the State of Delaware—which President Biden represented as a U.S. Senator from 1973 to 2009—ranked sixth-worst in the nation for its natural environment.  Nebraskans don’t need bureaucrats in Washington telling us how to care for the land.

We’re watching the Biden Administration closely, and we’ll take action to oppose federal overreach that would harm agriculture here in Nebraska.  We’ll also continue looking for creative ways to support our farmers and ranchers through initiatives like “Meat on the Menu Day.”  If you have questions about our work to grow agriculture in Nebraska, email pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or call 402-471-2244.



Fischer Announces Senate Agriculture Subcommittee Assignments

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will serve on the following subcommittees for the 117th Congress:
-        Rural Development and Energy
-        Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research
-        Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security

"Nebraska’s ag producers work every day to feed the world. These subcommittee assignments will allow me to advocate strongly on their behalf," said Senator Fischer.



 Senator Fischer Votes Against Haaland for Interior Secretary

Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after voting against Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), President Biden’s nominee to be Secretary of the Department of the Interior:

“Rep. Haaland supports significantly expanding the federal government’s control over our land and water resources. For that reason, I could not support her nomination. I will continue to exercise my oversight role to protect Nebraska landowners and ensure their voices are heard.”

Rep. Haaland introduced a resolution last year expressing that the Federal Government should establish a national goal of conserving at least 30 percent of the land and ocean of the United States by 2030, known as “30 x 30”. The proposal has President Biden’s support.



GRASS-ALFALFA MIXTURES OR PURE ALFALFA?
– Brad Schick, NE Extension Educator
 
Planting a new alfalfa hay field is a pretty routine undertaking. Have you considered putting some grass in that new planting this year?
 
Putting a field back into alfalfa is a practice that often goes with little thought of alternative species. Every operation is different, so pure alfalfa may still be the best option. Some producers may want to seed smooth bromegrass, orchardgrass, festulolium, or other grasses with the alfalfa. But why consider a mixture?
 
Many producers roll out bales for winter feeding, while others may grind different hays or feedstuffs. If more than 5 to 6 pounds of alfalfa is being fed to brood cows, that may be too little energy or TDN and too much protein. This is with a good quality alfalfa. If an alfalfa-grass hay is fed instead, the protein may be lower, but the TDN will be higher and better meet the energy requirements of those cows while not overfeeding protein. The mixing of the hay is done in the field while it grows instead of with the machinery in the winter.
 
Not every field is equal; just look at a soil map. Soil types or conditions may vary within a field and a mixture may result in a better overall stand. Alfalfa, for example, doesn’t like “wet feet” so the grass planted will do better in low lying areas where alfalfa can’t survive. Additionally, an alfalfa-grass mix usually dries down more quickly so it can get put up sooner. Typically, a mixture will yield the same or more than pure alfalfa on an annual basis, with most of the grass tonnage produced in the first cutting.
 
Mixtures do have to be managed differently than pure alfalfa stands, and some buyers may only want alfalfa, but for some operations, a mixture might be the perfect recipe.



NEBRASKA CHOSEN AS HOST OF 2021 NATIONAL ALPACA SHOW

The Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA) National Alpaca Show sponsored by Alpacas of Moose Creek Ranch and Red Granite Ranch, which draws hundreds of alpaca enthusiasts and fiber artists from across the country, is held in a new geographic location nearly every year.

Following the extremely successful show in Grand Island in 2015, AOA once again selected the Five Points Bank Arena at Fonner Park to host the 2021 National Alpaca Show.

Hours are:
Friday, March 19                8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 20           8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 21              8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

More than 500 alpacas from across the country will be featured in the competition show ring. The show will be comprised of classes judging conformation and fleece quality in many categories for both Suri and Huacaya alpacas.

Dozens of vendors and farm displays will sell the latest alpaca fashions and hand-crafted items. This year's show will also feature Alpaca Yoga, an Alpaca Costume Contest and free Alpaca Selfies!

The Association welcomes the public to this FREE event, while following state and local safety regulations. Please remember to wear a face mask for entrance.



Combined United States and Canadian Soybeans Crushed Up 5 Percent From 2019

This publication is a result of a joint effort by Statistics Canada and USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service to release the soybean and canola seed crushings information for both countries within one publication. United States soybean and oilseed crushings numbers for 2020 were previously released on March 1, 2021. Canadian soybean and oilseed crushings were released on January 25, 2021.

Combined United States and Canadian soybeans crushed for crude oil was 68.2 million tons in 2020, an increase of 5 percent from 2019.  Crude oil production was 26.1 billion pounds, up 5 percent from 2019.

Combined United States and Canadian canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 13.6 million tons in 2020, up 10 percent from 2019.  Crude oil production was 11.8 billion pounds, up 10 percent from 2019.



Feed Situation
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

The dry conditions in the western U.S. continue to bring long-run uncertainty to cattle price prospects. Feed costs tied to grain prices have increased steadily over the past six months, largely tied to strong export markets for corn and soybeans. A look at hay prices suggests that market has been responding differently. The NASS U.S. hay price for January 2021 of $157 per ton was up $2 per ton from January 2020. In the southwest, the prices in January were lower in Arizona, California and Colorado and higher in New Mexico compared to a year earlier. In the northwest, the price changes have been mixed (or not showing an obvious pattern). Across the plains states the prices were higher (except for a slight decrease in South Dakota), suggesting the area is the place to monitor prices moving forward should demand from the west increase further.

The next comprehensive measure of hay demand will be the May 1 (ending) stocks estimates released in mid-May. At the national level, the May 1 stocks projection by the LMIC is 19.5 million tons. That would be a slight reduction from the 2020 level, but greater than in 2018 and 2019, with prices inversely related to stocks levels. The LMIC model is annual and based on multiple factors to arrive at their projection. As an alternative, use or disappearance can be isolated by season, focusing on fall and winter disappearance. Fall disappearance is old crop plus production less December 1 stocks. In 2020 that was 63.2 million tons in the U.S. and slightly above the typical amount used given the available supply. Thus, fall disappearance was a little high. December 1 stocks, as a result, were at 84.0 million tons, down slightly from 2019. Winter use last year was generally low relative to the December 1, 2019 stocks level. Winter use tends to be 75 percent of December 1 stocks plus a few million tons. That implies a typical winter use of 66.6 million tons for 2020/2021, implying May 1 stocks of only 17.4 million tons. Actual May 1 stocks below that amount would indicate strong demand, a tenuous ending stocks situation, and sharply higher price expectations.

Another less familiar metric to follow related to the feed situation would be indemnities tied to Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance. The first insurance interval, January-February, just ended so indemnities are expected soon in affected areas with coverage. For calendar year 2021 there are 201 million acres insured nationally, compared to 160 million acres insured in 2020. Over half of those acres are in Nevada, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. During 2020 there were large indemnity payments in those and neighboring states. Both 85% and 90% coverage levels are common with PRF insurance. While the growth in acres insured was large, pasture remains a relatively less-insured crop. If PRF is not utilized, producers may be covering pasture with Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage. However the acres protected under that program are not transparent. A final related metric would be eligibility maps covering the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), where payments are tied to drought monitor severity and currently show the extent of on-going pasture stress in the southwest U.S.



Registration Open for Co-op Communicators' Annual Institute

Registration is now open for the annual institute of the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) to be held June 6 to 9 for the first time since 1993 back in Milwaukee, Wis. All communicators in that unique business model--cooperatives--are encouraged to register.

CCA is 250 professionals who communicate for cooperatives. It helps help members excel in communications -- from writing, photography, annual reports, and social media to podcasts, branding, strategic planning, annual reports, and education.

Organizers from across the United States are planning the in-person professional development event at the Milwaukee Downtown Marriott. They are working with hotel staff to ensure COVID-19 protocols are followed during the event, which includes a host of hot topics faced by communicators from rural to urban cooperatives. The institute is also a time to honor the top writers, photographers, special productions and careers of cooperative communicators from California to Massachusettes, fulfilling one of its goals of being an interchange of facts, research, techniques, and opinions.

"CCA emphasizes ideas and strategies aimed at making cooperative communications more successful in telling our slightly different story to internal and external stakeholders," said Afton Holt, 2020-22 CCA president and president and creative director of CornerPost Marketing Communications, Fort Dodge, Iowa. "Through the sessions we're planning, people will gain knowledge and skills on best practices to address the challenges we face daily communicating with members, employees, consumers, industry influencers, legislators and the media."

Registration is limited due to COVID-19 protocols, so go to www.communicators.coop/professional-development/cca-institute/ today to learn more.



USDA Requests Information on USDA’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Strategy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today published a Federal Register Notice requesting public input on a climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy. The Notice represents an important step toward implementing President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. The Order, signed January 27, states that, “America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners have an important role to play in combating the climate crisis and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by sequestering carbon in soils, grasses, trees, and other vegetation and sourcing sustainable bioproducts and fuels.” The Order directs Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to solicit input from stakeholders as USDA develops a climate-smart agriculture and forestry approach.

“USDA is committed to addressing climate change through actions that are farmer, rancher, and forest landowner-focused and that create new market opportunities for the sector in a fair and equitable way,” said Vilsack. “We want your ideas on how to position the agriculture and forestry sectors to be leaders on climate smart practices to mitigate climate change. This includes making the most of USDA programs, developing new USDA-led climate strategies, strengthening existing markets and developing new markets that generate income.”

The Notice seeks information on four topics: climate-smart agriculture and forestry; biofuels, bioproducts, and renewable energy; catastrophic wildfire; and meeting the needs of disadvantaged communities through USDA’s climate strategy.

The Notice will be available for public input until April 30th, and is available online through the Federal Register.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our nation’s lands, biodiversity, and natural resources, including our soil, air and water. Through research, conservation practices and partnerships, USDA aims to find solutions to agricultural challenges, enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including state, local, and tribal governments.